What happened
On March 15, 2011, a Mil Mi-8T, registration RA-24436, was scheduled to perform a medical evacuation mission (Task No. 245) for the Krasnoyarsk Air Ambulance Service. The crew, which included a pilot-instructor, a trainee captain, and a flight mechanic, completed their pre-flight medical examinations at the Cheremshanka airport medical station at 00:30. Following the medical clearance, the crew remained on standby in the airport hotel.
At 02:30, the AeroGeo flight dispatcher received a request for a medical flight route covering Cheremshanka, Tatyshev Island, Shushenskoye, and Balakhta. The flight plan for flight EG 9355 was distributed to the crew at 02:44, with a scheduled departure of 03:00. Pre-flight preparations were conducted both in the airport navigation room and on the aircraft under the supervision of the pilot-instructor. The takeoff for the medical mission eventually occurred at 03:15.
The investigation
Prior to the flight, the crew had planned to conduct additional training following the completion of the medical mission, provided there was sufficient daylight and remaining duty time. This training was intended to assist the trainee captain in completing specific requirements of the A-2 induction program, which included maneuvers such as circuit flying and simulated single-engine failure drills using throttle manipulation. At the time of departure, the weather conditions were reported to be compliant with VFR requirements, and the aircraft was fully functional, properly fueled, and maintained.