What happened
On the night of August 28, 1943, an aircraft operating out of Khvoynaya was en route to the Lake Onega region when it was ordered to turn back due to adverse weather conditions. Despite reports that visibility and conditions at the departure point were equally poor, the crew decided to attempt a landing during a thunderstorm characterized by heavy rainfall and strong crosswinds.
The initial approach failed, forcing the pilot to execute a go-around maneuver. During this phase, a strike of lightning blinded the pilot in command. This sudden visual impairment caused the pilot to lose spatial orientation, leading the aircraft into an uncontrolled left bank. The plane subsequently impacted the ground and crashed. Two crew members were killed in the accident, while four others sustained injuries.