1980s? No date. Use neutral title: 'Airliner Crash Near Ust-Barguzin: 48 Killed After Diversion' (CCCP-41838)

Flight Details and Diversion The aircraft departed Severomuysk Airport at 1441 local time on a scheduled service to Ulan-Ude, with an intermediate stop at Nizhneangarsk. It carried 44 passengers and four crew members. While cruising at 3,600 meters, the crew was advised of poor weather at the destination. Because Nizhneangarsk Airport was closed, the crew was instructed to divert to Ust-Barguzin Airport on the east shore of Lake Baikal, in the Svyatoi Nos peninsula. ## Impact and Casualties During descent to Ust-Barguzin at an altitude of 1,300 meters, the aircraft struck a mountain slope and crashed 30 km northwest of Ust-Barguzin. The airplane was destroyed on impact, and all 48 occupants were killed. ## Official Findings The investigation determined that the crew failed to follow prescribed procedures and began the descent prematurely under VFR mode in IMC conditions. Unfavorable wind components—200° at 25 km/h, or 250° at 50 km/h as initially forecast—caused the aircraft to deviate from the calculated route. ATC did not know the aircraft's exact position because of lack of contact from the crew and discrepancies in radiogoniometer settings. These factors resulted in a controlled flight into terrain.