Incident Overview
The aircraft was cruising at night on a leg from Irkutsk to Chita when the crew lost their orientation. They requested assistance from air traffic control (ATC) but did not receive effective help. The airplane deviated from the prescribed flight path to the south, and due to fuel exhaustion, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing.
Emergency Landing Attempts
The crew attempted three emergency landings without success. The captain then elected a fourth landing attempt. At an altitude of 900 meters, the airplane clipped trees, continued for about 340 meters, and eventually crashed in a dense wooded area.
Casualties and Damage
One passenger was seriously injured and later evacuated. All 27 other occupants were killed. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the crew failed to adhere to published procedures and did not follow the route mentioned on the flight plan because they failed to use the automatic direction finder properly. Following several mistakes and a lack of awareness, the crew failed to take the appropriate actions to establish their position. It was also considered that the ATC assistance was insufficient and inefficient.