Baltic Sea Temperature Survey Aircraft Ditched in the Irben Strait (CCCP-91611)

Incident Overview and Mission Context The aircraft departed from Rzhevka Airport on a mission to take temperature readings of the Baltic Sea. While cruising at an altitude of 300 meters, the right engine lost power, possibly due to icing. The aircraft then lost speed and height, prompting the captain to ditch the aircraft in the Irben Strait south of Saaremaa island, Estonia. ## Ditching, Sinking, and Rescue After ditching, the aircraft sank after 12 minutes. All 6 crew members and 4 passengers were rescued by a patrol boat. ## Official Findings The official probable cause was engine failure, maybe due to icing.