What happened
During a morning supply mission from Uchur to a geological camp situated in the Kovrik River area, an aircraft was performing cargo drops. After completing an initial delivery, the crew proceeded through the Kovrik Valley to execute a second low-altitude pass. During this phase of flight, the captain identified that the aircraft was at an insufficient altitude and attempted to initiate a return maneuver.
While executing a sharp left turn at an altitude of approximately 20 to 25 meters, the aircraft lost control. The plane entered a left bank and subsequently stalled, impacting the ground roughly 1,900 meters away from the intended drop zone. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and nine fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the primary cause was inadequate piloting techniques and erroneous decision-making by the captain, specifically regarding the failure to maintain safe speed and altitude during a turn in mountainous terrain. Several contributing factors were noted:
- The aircraft was flying at an altitude too low to allow for recovery following a stall
- The crew maintained insufficient height while operating in a mountain environment
- Deficiencies in flight preparation
- An improper approach configuration