On December 19, 2009, a Mi-171, registration RA-22468, was operating in the vicinity of Vorkuta airport. During the flight, the crew received weather updates from the Bovanenkovo air traffic control dispatcher indicating deteriorating conditions, including snow, blizzards, and reduced visibility. At 10:12, an observer reported runway visibility at Vorkuta as 300 meters for a heading of 079 and 1200 meters for a heading of 259.
The crew of RA-22468 reported that weather conditions over the Kamenetsky area were consistent with the flight plan. However, as the aircraft entered the Vorkuta Regional Center of the Air Traffic Control Service area, visibility began to decline. The aircraft was operating in conditions characterized by wind gusts of 17 knots and intermittent visibility as low as 800 meters due to vertical blizzards.
During the approach, the crew descended below the decision height. While attempting to visually locate approach lights and the runway, the crew lost spatial orientation. This distraction led to the unintentional application of large pitch angles and a loss of airspeed, eventually resulting in the aircraft entering a vortex ring state.
There were no injuries or fatalities reported in relation to this event.