What happened
During a morning departure from Turukhansk Airport, the flight encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by rainfall and visibility ranging from 4 to 10 km. As the aircraft traveled approximately 115 km north of the airport, visibility decreased significantly to roughly one kilometer.
In an attempt to maintain visual contact with the terrain, the pilot-in-command altered the flight path and lowered the altitude. During this maneuver, the left wing of the aircraft struck treetops. The plane continued flying for about one kilometer before performing a left bank and impacting a dense forest approximately 25 km north of Serkovo.
The accident resulted in six fatalities, including all four crew members and two passengers. Additionally, nine other passengers sustained injuries, with three individuals reported to be in serious condition.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crew chose to operate under visual flight rules despite being in instrument flight conditions and flying below established minimums. Furthermore, the decision by the pilot-in-command to change the flight route without obtaining necessary prior authorization was noted as a contributing factor to the crash.