What happened
On a flight path involving two separate missions, two Lisunov LI-2 aircraft collided over a wooded region approximately 16.5 km west of Barzas. The first aircraft departed Krasnoyarsk Airport at 1ict:55LT, intending to reach Novosibirsk at an altitude of 2,100 meters. Simultaneously, a second Lisunov LI-2T, registered CCCP-A4031, was operating an aerial photography mission from Novosibirsk toward Kemerovo with a crew of seven.
During the approach to Kemerovo, the captain of the first aircraft altered his assigned altitude and flight path without receiving authorization from air traffic control. While cruising at 1,800 meters on a heading of 270°, the first aircraft encountered the second aircraft, which was traveling in the opposite direction. The collision struck the right engine and right wing of the first plane. Both aircraft subsequently entered a steep descent and crashed into the forest. The impact resulted in 27 fatalities, leaving no survivors from either crew.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the primary cause was the unauthorized deviation from the flight plan by the pilot of the first aircraft. By changing his altitude and route without permission, he entered the path of the oncoming aircraft. The investigation also noted that the sun's low position in the sky served as a contributing factor to the lack of visibility during the encounter.