Accident Overview
A flight operating between Yakutsk and Vilyuisk ended in tragedy when the aircraft crashed into a wooded area approximately 200 meters from an open field near Namtsev, about 90 kilometers north of Yakutsk. All 20 people on board were killed.
Flight and Emergency
Thirty-one minutes after departure, while the crew had selected fuel supply from the left rear tank, both engines stopped because the left rear tank had run empty. The crew had neglected to switch to another tank. Attempting an emergency landing, the crew aimed for the valley of the Taras River. However, they set the propellers on high pitch and lowered the landing gear too early. As a result, the aircraft did not reach the open area of the valley, stalled, and struck terrain in a forested area.
Investigation Findings
According to the official investigation, the probable cause was engine failure due to fuel exhaustion resulting from poor management of the fuel supply system by the crew. Contributory factors included poor flight organization, poor crew coordination, and several wrong decisions made by the flying crew during the flight.