What happened
During a cargo transport mission operating between Yakutsk and Allaikha, an aircraft was performing a leg from Yakutsk toward Khandyga when it encountered severe weather. Although the initial meteorological forecast suggested favorable conditions, the actual environment proved much more hazardous. Due to the impact of powerful winds, the flight path deviated from its intended course, leading the aircraft into cloud cover.
While flying at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters, the plane struck the northwestern slope of the initial mountain within the Verkhoyanski khrebet ridge. The collision occurred roughly 95 km northwest of Khandyga. Following the impact with the slope, the aircraft fell into a ravine located about 120 meters from the initial crash site. The wreckage was not discovered until May 11, eight days after the incident. There were 4 fatalities among the crew.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the weather information provided to the crew prior to takeoff was inaccurate and failed to represent the actual conditions present during the flight. However, it was determined that the crew's failure to follow established flight procedures and maintain operational discipline contributed significantly to the accident.