What happened
A scientific flight departing from Magadan-Sokol Airport toward Nikolayevsk-on-Amur ended in a fatal accident in the western Okhotsk Sea. The mission involved measuring water surface temperatures and carried a total of eleven people, consisting of seven crew members and four scientists.
During the flight, weather conditions worsened significantly. While operating at an altitude of 140 meters amidst restricted visibility, the aircraft began a climbing right turn. During this maneuver, the plane struck a hill measuring 152 meters in height located on the southwest portion of Utichiy Island within the Shantar Islands. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft, causing 11 fatalities.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew proceeded with the second leg of their mission without receiving updated weather bulletins. This lack of current meteorological information led to the decision to continue despite deteriorating conditions. At the time of the crash, the area was experiencing heavy rain, turbulence, and thunderstorm activity. Ultimately, the crew's failure to receive and act upon updated weather data resulted in a late decision to return to base, leaving them unable to identify ground obstacles in the low visibility.