What happened
During the cruise phase of flight, an Li-2 was traversing a mountainous region when it moved across a mountain pass. While navigating this area, the aircraft was struck by intense turbulence and powerful downdrafts. The structural integrity of the plane was compromised as portions of the tail and the left wing tip were severed from the airframe.
Following this structural failure, the aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrollable descent. The plane impacted a forested area situated on a mountain slope at an elevation of 1,760 meters. Search efforts located the wreckage approximately 80 meters below the peak several hours after the event. There were 31 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the encounter with severe atmospheric disturbances. The magnitude of the downdrafts and turbulence exceeded the structural certification limits for both the wings and the tail of the Li-2, leading to the loss of control.