Accident Details
During an approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the flight crew encountered foggy conditions. Despite the visibility decreasing below the prescribed minima, the captain elected to continue the approach. The left wing tip then struck the ground, causing the aircraft to lose control. It nosed down, struck the ground, bounced, and came to rest 30 meters farther. The impact destroyed the aircraft.
The captain and the mechanic were killed in the crash. The two other crew members sustained serious injuries. The copilot succumbed to his injuries two days later, on December 1st, and the radio operator died from his injuries the following day, December 2nd.
Probable Cause
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was a sudden drop in visibility due to fog in the approach path and near the runway threshold. Despite the conditions, the captain decided to continue the approach below the established minima instead of diverting to a suitable alternate airport. Additionally, inaccurate weather forecasts contributed to the situation, as they did not reflect the actual conditions.