What happened
During a surveying mission over the icy landscape from Nizhniye Kresty (present-day Cherski) to Pevek, an aviation accident occurred near Cape Shelagski. While the captain was located in the passenger cabin, the co-pilot unilaterally decided to alter the flight path, causing the aircraft to fly over the 469-meter elevation of the cape.
As the aircraft type approached the cape, it encountered intense downdrafts. This atmospheric turbulence forced the lower fuselage into a hillside. The impact caused the plane to be tossed into the air before it ultimately collided with a massive boulder. The subsequent crash triggered a fire on the site. Of the passengers and crew on board, seven fatalities were recorded, while three survivors were successfully rescued from the wreckage.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was driven by an unauthorized route modification performed by the co-pilot. This decision to change the flight path was made without consulting the captain and directly violated established flight procedures.