What happened
During a scheduled flight segment traveling from Mys Kosistyy toward Khatanga, an aircraft operating on a route from Pevek to Moscow drifted significantly off its intended course. During the period of polar night, the plane moved approximately 38 km to the left of its assigned flight path. While navigating through low visibility conditions characterized by snow and cloud cover, the crew initiated a descent before reaching the appropriate location.
As a result of this premature descent, the twin engine aircraft collided with a hill measuring 340 meters in height, situated roughly 65 km from Khatanga Airport. The impact caused the plane to slide approximately 400 meters before coming to an inverted position and subsequently catching fire. Emergency responders were unable to reach the crash site until December 31, one day after the event. The accident resulted in 16 fatalities and left one passenger with serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several contributing elements related to navigation and crew coordination. The primary factor was navigation errors by the flight crew, which led to the significant lateral deviation from the flight plan. The captain's decision to begin the descent too early, combined with visibility limited to 8 km due to night, clouds, and snowfall, directly led to the collision with terrain.
Additional factors included potential communication issues between the pilot and the navigator, following a last-minute personnel change by operations. Furthermore, investigators noted deficiencies regarding flight organization and procedures for operating in polar environments.