Mid-Air Collision Between Two Lisunov LI-2T Aircraft Near Kemerovo (CCCP-L4534)

Incident Overview and Flight Details On the day of the accident, a Lisunov LI-2T departed Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1755 local time, en route to Novosibirsk, with an assigned altitude of 2,100 meters. At 1840 local time, a second Lisunov LI-2T, registered CCCP-A4031, departed Novosibirsk Airport for Kemerovo. The second aircraft carried a crew of seven engaged in an aerial photography mission. While approaching Kemerovo, the captain of the first aircraft altered his route and flight level without prior authorization and passed north of Kemerovo. In excellent weather conditions, while cruising at 1,800 meters on a heading of 270° and facing the sun, the first aircraft was struck on its right wing and right engine by the second aircraft, which was flying from the opposite direction. Following the collision, both aircraft descended to the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 16.5 kilometers west of Barzas. Debris was scattered over a distance greater than 600 meters, and all 27 occupants on both aircraft were killed.