What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation involving multiple stops from Leningrad to Sverdlovsk, a Lisunov LI-2 was conducting its descent toward Kazan. The flight was carrying a payload consisting of capacitors and several heavy brass panels. At the time of the incident, the region was experiencing severe weather characterized by intense snowfall, which had effectively eliminated visibility.
As the crew attempted to navigate the approach, they were granted permission to descend through successive altitudes of 1,800, 1,200, and 600 meters. While attempting to locate the runway under these conditions, the aircraft was directed by air traffic control to an altitude of 150 meters. During this descent, the Lisunov LI-2 struck the tail section of an Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12, registered CCCP-L1435. This second aircraft was operating a cargo flight from Novosibirsk to Moscow via Kazan, transporting various electrical components and wire coils.
The impact caused both planes to plummet into a snow-covered field situated approximately three kilometers southwest of the airport. The crash resulted in eleven fatalities, as all crew members on both aircraft perished when the planes were destroyed upon impact.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the collision was primarily driven by failures in air traffic control coordination and oversight. Personnel at Kazan Airport failed to properly manage radar coverage and did not provide sufficient assistance to the incoming flight. Specifically, the controller managing the approach directed the crew of the Lisunov LI-2 to descend to 300 meters, a level significantly lower than the 900 meters prescribed by standard approach procedures.
Furthermore, investigators noted that given the visibility had dropped below safe minimums, controllers should have either delayed the departure of the Aeroflot Ilyushin II-12 or directed the incoming crew to hold or divert. The investigation officially cleared both flight crews of any responsibility for the accident.