Aircraft disappearance and wreckage discovery in Kuznetsky Alatau

7 fatalities • Belogorsk, Russia • Flight

An aircraft traveling from Krasnoyarsk to Novosibirsk disappeared during flight, with its wreckage eventually discovered 15 years later in a mountainous region.

What happened

A flight operating from Krasnoyarsk Airport toward Novosibirsk, which was part of a larger route originating in Khabarovsk and scheduled to end in Tashkent, vanished while in transit. The aircraft was carrying a total of seven people, including a crew of six and one passenger. During the flight, the crew encountered adverse weather characterized by rain and low cloud cover. While maintaining an altitude of 1,500 meters, the flight encountered icing conditions, prompting the crew to receive authorization to descend to 900 meters.

Following the failure of the aircraft to reach its destination in Novosibirsk, search and rescue operations were initiated. However, these efforts were halted several days later after no evidence of the plane or its occupants was located. The wreckage remained lost for fifteen years until it was discovered in 1967 on the northwestern slope of Mt Kuznetsky Alatau, near Belogorsk. The investigation into the site revealed that the aircraft struck treetops and traveled approximately 70 meters before crashing into a forested area at an altitude of 710 meters. The impact caused the plane to break apart, and a subsequent fire destroyed the remains. All seven occupants were killed in the accident.

Findings

Investigation results suggest that the crash occurred while the crew was performing an emergency descent due to severe icing conditions encountered during the flight.

Probable cause

The accident was likely caused by the crew attempting an emergency descent while struggling with heavy ice accumulation on the aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1952-09-28 Lisunov LI-2 accident near Belogorsk, Russia?

An aircraft traveling from Krasnoyarsk to Novosibirsk disappeared during flight, with its wreckage eventually discovered 15 years later in a mountainous region.

Were there any fatalities in the 1952-09-28 Lisunov LI-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 7 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1952-09-28 involved a Lisunov LI-2, registration CCCP-L4673, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Belogorsk, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was likely caused by the crew attempting an emergency descent while struggling with heavy ice accumulation on the aircraft.

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