What happened
During a specialized mission for the Voyekova Geophysical Observatory, an aircraft carrying six passengers and five crew members was performing thunderstorm observations. The flight group included three employees of the observatory. While the mission itself was completed successfully, the return approach to Bagdarin encountered severe weather, characterized by heavy rainfall and low cloud cover.
As the aircraft descended to approximately 600 meters while flying through clouds, it made contact with treetops. This impact led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the plane to crash into a forested area on a mountain slope situated roughly 28 km from Bagdarin Airport. The impact resulted in a post-crash fire that destroyed the aircraft. There were 11 fatalities among the total occupants.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary reason for the accident was inadequate approach planning by the crew, who did not adhere to established procedures and utilized an incorrect approach configuration. This error caused the plane to descend into a dangerous altitude while operating over mountainous terrain in adverse weather. Additional contributing elements included limited visibility due to rain and clouds, as well as insufficient assistance from air traffic control.