What happened
During an aerial survey of Arctic ice formations, a flight departing from Tiksi Airport encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The mission, which involved monitoring ice along the Laptev Sea, the Yana and Kolyma Indigirka estuaries, and the mouth of the Lana River, was compromised by heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility.
In an attempt to navigate through the cloud cover, the pilot initiated a descent to a lower altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft type (unspecified model) struck the summit of a hill. The impact caused the plane to slide approximately 100 meters before coming to a rest on snow-covered terrain.
There were six people on board, including four crew members and two hydrologists. While the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss, there were six injuries reported, with no fatalities. The occupants sustained minor injuries and were subsequently transported to a medical facility in Khatanga for treatment.
Findings
Investigations into the incident concluded that the primary factor leading to the collision was a navigation error committed by the flight crew during the descent.