What happened
On a flight departing from Anadyr Airport, the crew initially attempted a trip to Egvekinot at 0919LT. Due to unfavorable weather, the aircraft returned to Anadyr and departed again later at 1213LT when conditions had improved. During the second attempt, the pilot encountered heavy cloud cover and reduced visibility while approaching the destination.
While descending to an altitude of 235 meters, the aircraft drifted from its intended approach path. The plane struck the side of Mt Dumka, crossed over the peak, and ultimately crashed into flames on the far side of the mountain. Search and rescue teams located the wreckage one day after the incident. The accident resulted in 22 fatalities and left 5 passengers seriously injured.
Findings
Investigations determined that the captain chose to proceed with the approach at an altitude below the required 300-meter minimum safety limit, despite having no visual reference to the ground due to poor weather. Additionally, technical issues with navigation equipment contributed to the accident; specifically, the primary approach radio beacon was non-functional, and the backup beacon was operating incorrectly.