Accident Overview
On a cargo flight from Milkovo to Khalaktyrka, an aircraft carrying a crew of four and a load of 46 bags of potatoes weighing 2,536 kilograms encountered a fatal accident. The crew began the descent in cloud cover and failed to follow the assigned route for Khalaktyrka. At an altitude of 2,100 meters, the airplane struck the north face of Mount Aag, a peak 2,319 meters high located 42 kilometers north of Khalaktyrka. The wreckage was discovered a day later, and all four crew members were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that strong winds blowing at 60 kilometers per hour caused the aircraft to deviate 12 degrees from the prescribed route. Due to the presence of clouds, the crew was unable to visually distinguish the mountain. The lack of air traffic control assistance was also considered a contributing factor.
Probable Cause
The probable cause of the accident was the deviation from the prescribed route due to strong winds, combined with reduced visibility from clouds that prevented the crew from seeing the mountain. The absence of ATC assistance contributed to the outcome.