Incident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft collided with a mountain slope at an altitude of 2,226 meters, approximately 74 kilometers from Bagdarin Airport. The aircraft had been cleared to descend from 3,000 meters to 2,700 meters and continued descending before the impact. The aircraft disintegrated upon impact, resulting in the deaths of all 17 occupants. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to low clouds and snowfall.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the crew made a miscalculation of flight time and misevaluated the climbing time, leading to an 11-minute discrepancy. Additionally, radio communication problems and unstable radiogoniometric systems prevented air traffic control from establishing the exact position of the aircraft. The crew initiated the approach prematurely, causing the aircraft to descend below the minimum safe altitude. Due to the lack of visibility, the crew was unable to see and avoid the mountain.