What happened
During a flight to Uralsk (Kazakhstan) Airport, the crew encountered unspecified issues that necessitated an unplanned diversion to the destination. The aircraft was performing a final approach under conditions characterized by darkness and low visibility.
As the flight progressed toward the runway, the aircraft struck the terrain approximately 1,340 metres before reaching the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the aircraft being destroyed beyond repair. There were six injuries reported among the occupants, but no fatalities occurred during the event.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the primary factor was a failure by the pilot-in-command to maintain an adequate altitude during the approach phase. This error, occurring amidst poor weather and nighttime operations, led to the controlled flight into terrain.