What happened
During a flight from Yekaterinburg to Tiksi, which included a scheduled stop in Kansk, a four-engine airplane encountered difficulties while approaching its destination. The flight was carrying a total of 32 passengers and seven crew members. While operating under polar night conditions, the aircraft drifted from its intended approach pattern and descended beneath the required glide path.
As a result of this deviation, the underside of the aircraft made contact with the peak of a snow-covered hill, measuring 392 meters in height, situated approximately 31 km northwest of Tiksi Airport. Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced and struck the ground a second time on the rear slope of the hill, roughly 1,250 meters away from the first contact point. The impact caused the fuselage to separate into three distinct sections. Although the structural damage was severe, no fire broke out following the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicate that the descent below the glide path was driven by the crew's reliance on a flawed approach scheme. This procedural error led to the aircraft's altitude dropping below safe limits during the approach phase.
All 38 people on board sustained injuries, with 31 passengers and 7 crew members affected. Among the total number of casualties, 16 individuals were reported to have suffered serious injuries.