Accident
An aircraft departed Uelkal bound for Anadyr with seven passengers, a crew of five, and 580 kilograms of various goods. While approaching Anadyr by night, the crew did not realize they were off course by eight kilometers. At an altitude of 720 meters, the airplane struck the slope of Mt Gora Ioanna, which stands 920 meters high and is located about 35 kilometers northeast of Anadyr. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate, and all 12 occupants were killed.
Search and Rescue
When the aircraft failed to arrive at its destination, search and rescue operations were initiated. The burnt wreckage was found four days later on a 50-degree slope of the mountain.
Investigation
The official investigation was unable to determine the exact cause of the deviation from the intended flight path. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to night conditions and clouds. The assumption that the aircraft was caught by a downdraft was not ruled out.