What happened
The incident involved a military transport mission delivering supplies and personnel to Latvian soldiers stationed behind enemy lines in eastern Latvia. The aircraft was transporting 9 paratroopers, a crew of five, and various goods. During the approach to the target area, the flight crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions. Consequently, the captain elected to abort the mission and return to their base at Staraya Toropa in the Tver region.
On the return leg, visibility dropped significantly as night fell. The crew attempted to execute a landing despite conditions falling below minimum operational standards. During the final approach, the aircraft impacted a prairie located 1 km southwest of Ramenye. The impact destroyed the airframe, and all 14 occupants were killed in the accident.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary factor was the deterioration of weather conditions during the flight. It was determined that the crew proceeded with a landing attempt while operating in below-minima conditions.