What happened
On a flight path between Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk, an aircraft departed Krasnoyadamente Airport at 17:55 local time, climbing to a planned altitude of 2,100 meters. Later, at 18:40 local time, another Lisunov LI-2T, registered CCCP-A4031, departed Novosibirsk Airport for Kemerovo. This second aircraft was carrying a crew of seven performing aerial photography duties.
As the first aircraft approached Kemerovo, the captain altered both the flight level and the intended route without obtaining authorization from air traffic control, passing to the north of the airport. While cruising at 1,800 meters on a heading of 270 degrees, the aircraft encountered the second Lisunov LI-2T while flying directly into the sun's glare. The impact occurred when the second aircraft struck the right engine and right wing of the first.
Both planes entered a steep descent following the collision, eventually crashing in a forested region approximately 16.5 km west of Barzas. Debris from the wreckage was scattered across an area exceeding 600 meters. The accident resulted in 27 fatalities, as all occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the primary factor was the pilot's decision to unauthorizedly change his flight path and altitude. This maneuver placed the aircraft directly into the trajectory of the oncoming plane. The investigation also noted that the sun's low position in the sky served as a contributing factor during the encounter.