What happened
During a flight from Moscow to Krasnodar, the aircraft passed over the hilly terrain near Kamenka. While navigating this section, the crew became preoccupied with a malfunctioning thermometer. This distraction prevented them from recognizing that their altitude was insufficient for the terrain below. Consequently, the aircraft continued its descent until both propellers struck the ground. The impact caused the plane to crash-land in a pasture, where it subsequently caught fire and was destroyed. Despite the total loss of the airframe, there were no casualties among those on board.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident resulted from the crew's decision to maintain flight at an unsafe altitude. The failure to monitor vertical position adequately, combined with their focus on the instrument fault, led directly to the ground contact.