What happened
During a flight operating between Kirensk and Olyokminsk, the aircraft's left engine ignited. In an attempt to manage the emergency, the captain initiated a descent; however, the fire expanded across the wing and entered the passenger cabin through the heating system. As the plane reached an altitude of 2,000 meters, the left engine detached from the airframe. The aircraft subsequently performed a crash landing in a field situated approximately 29 km southwest of Vitim, where the wreckage caught fire.
While four crew members and six passengers successfully evacuated the wreckage, ten fatalities occurred among the passengers, who were reportedly overcome by smoke inhalation.
Findings
Investigators were unable to definitively establish the origin of the engine fire, though a failure in a fuel line connection remained a potential cause. Several contributing factors were identified regarding the escalation of the incident:
- The cabin crew did not utilize available fire extinguishers or close the valve for the heating system, which allowed the fire to spread rapidly into the cabin.
- The pilot's decision to execute a steep descent contributed to the spread of the flames.
- Inadequate instructions and assistance provided by the crew to the passengers during the emergency prevented a safe evacuation, leading to the deaths of ten women and children.