What happened
During a departure from the Molodezhnaya Ice Station, an aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude while attempting to climb. The incident occurred at an elevation between 70 and 80 meters above the ground. Following the descent, the plane struck icy terrain situated approximately 1,000 meters beyond the runway threshold and 500 meters to the left of the runway centerline.
The impact resulted in three fatalities among the occupants. Additionally, 11 individuals sustained injuries during the crash. The aircraft was destroyed in the accident and was considered a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the flight suffered from windshear and low-level turbulence. These atmospheric conditions led to a loss of control during the early stages of the climb, causing the aircraft to descend into the terrain.