What happened
During a flight toward Lake Minchumina Airport, the aircraft was performing its final approach when it encountered intense whiteout conditions. As the pilot attempted to navigate through the low-visibility environment, the plane went out of control and struck the ground several dozen meters before reaching the runway threshold.
The impact resulted in one fatality among the passengers on board. Additionally, the other four occupants sustained various injuries during the crash sequence.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the pilot's loss of control following a period of spatial disorientation. This disorientation occurred as the crew attempted to maintain the flight path while operating within the challenging whiteout conditions present at the time of the approach.