What happened
During a nighttime approach to Irkutsk-Intl Airport, the flight crew began a sequence of descents, receiving clearances to 3,000 meters, followed by 2,100 meters, and finally 1,800 meters. During this process, the aircraft impacted trees and crashed upon a hill situated at an elevation of 700 meters, approximately 21 km southeast of the destination airport. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and four fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident revealed that the crew descended below the required minimum descent altitude. This error was attributed to an incorrect altimeter setting. Additionally, investigators noted that the crew members were experiencing significant fatigue, as their duty period had exceeded 15 hours and 26 minutes at the time of the incident.