What happened
During a flight traveling from Novosibirsk toward Yakutsk, the crew experienced a drop in hydraulic pressure associated with the second engine. In response to this mechanical issue, the captain initiated an emergency diversion to Krasnoyarsk Airport.
As the aircraft approached the runway, it encountered heavy snowfall. During the final segment of the landing sequence, the four-engine airplane descended too low and impacted the ground approximately 200 meters before reaching the runway threshold. The subsequent impact resulted in a post-crash fire that destroyed the airframe. Despite the severity of the accident, there were no fatalities among those on board.
Findings
Investigations into the incident highlighted several critical factors. While the specific reason for the loss of hydraulic pressure in engine number 2 was not determined, the crew's choice of diversion airport was identified as a significant error. The weather conditions at Krasnoyarsk were deemed marginal due to the snow. It was noted that diverting to Kemerovo or Bratsk would have been a more appropriate decision, as those locations offered much better visibility and weather stability.