Accident
During descent to Shakhtersk Airport, the aircraft flew in poor weather conditions with low clouds. At an altitude of 950 meters, it struck the slope of Mount Krasnova, which is 1,093 meters high and located about 53 kilometers south of the airport. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all 18 occupants were killed.
Investigation
Investigators found that the crew had started the descent prematurely, approximately 15 to 20 kilometers earlier than required. This caused the aircraft to descend below the minimum descent altitude (MDA). Due to the low clouds, the crew could not see the mountain and avoid the collision.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause is that the crew started the descent prematurely, about 15 to 20 km too early, causing the aircraft to approach below the MDA. Low clouds prevented the crew from distinguishing the mountain.