What happened
A cargo flight operating between Irkutsk and Khabarovsk, which included a scheduled stop in Chita, was transporting 3,031 kilograms of brake linings and hoses. During the nighttime approach to Chita-Kadala Airport, the aircraft descended below the safe altitude for the terrain. The plane struck trees and crashed on the slope of Mt Cherskogo, approximately 11 km before reaching the runway threshold. The wreckage was located 170 meters below the mountain's summit. There were five fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the crew initiated their descent earlier than required. At the time of the impact, the aircraft was at an altitude of only 700 meters, whereas the necessary altitude for that phase of flight was 1,200 meters. The premature descent prevented the crew from clearing the mountain terrain. Additionally, the lack of visibility during the night made it difficult to identify the mountain slope. The investigation also noted that inappropriate assistance from Air Traffic Control (ATC) served as a contributing factor to the event.