What happened
The incident occurred approximately one hour and seventeen minutes after takeoff while the aircraft was maintaining a cruising altitude between 400 and 600 meters. During this phase of flight, the airframe encountered severe icing conditions. This accumulation of ice resulted in significant buffeting affecting the tail section. The aerodynamic stress caused a portion of the left stabilizer to break away from the main structure.
Following the detachment of the stabilizer component, the aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrolled spin. The crew initiated recovery maneuvers at an altitude estimated between 150 and 200 meters. However, the airframe disintegrated in mid-air before impacting the ground near Netrubezh, located roughly 75 kilometers northeast of Kursk. All 22 occupants were killed in the crash.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the primary factor leading to the accident was the severe icing environment. These conditions generated sufficient force to cause a part of the left stabilizer to detach while the aircraft was in flight, ultimately resulting in the loss of control and structural breakup.