What happened
During a departure from Ufa Airport under challenging weather conditions, an aircraft failed to achieve the necessary airspeed for a safe climb. The pilot initiated rotation despite the lack of sufficient velocity, which led to the plane entering a high angle of attack immediately after leaving the runway surface. This maneuver caused the tail section to impact the ground.
Following the initial impact, the aircraft bounced across the terrain before performing a crash landing. The wreckage eventually came to a stop in a garden area situated 220 meters left of the runway centerline and 290 meters beyond the runway threshold. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Initially, all four crew members sustained serious injuries. However, the pilot later succumbed to injuries five hours after the accident, and the radio operator died 38 hours following the event.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the crew performed inadequate flight preparations prior to departure. The primary factor was the decision to attempt takeoff with a contaminated aircraft. Significant amounts of snow had accumulated on the wings, stabilizers, and tail surfaces. This buildup altered the aerodynamic profile of the plane and caused reduced thrust and performance by increasing drag.