What happened
Following departure from Sverdlovsk Airport, the aircraft was en route to Kuybyshev on a scheduled cargo mission. The crew, described as inexperienced, committed multiple navigational mistakes that caused the plane to stray 68 km northwest of its intended track. Upon reaching the estimated time of arrival for the destination, the flight deck assumed they had arrived at Kuybyshev and initiated landing procedures. During this approach phase, the left engine ceased functioning. Unable to maintain control or altitude with a single engine under these conditions, the aircraft impacted a field in Tashla and was destroyed on impact.
Findings
The accident resulted in the deaths of all five occupants. Investigators examined the fuel state at the time of the crash, finding approximately 106 kilograms remaining, which represented roughly twenty minutes of usable flight time. Despite this analysis, the inquiry could not establish a definitive mechanical reason for why the left engine was not running when the aircraft struck the ground.