What happened
On August 9, 2016, at approximately 02:00, a privately owned Sk-12t6 amphibious aircraft, registration RA-1743G, departed from an expedition base located roughly 180 km north of Volochanka in the Taimyr region. The pilot and his son, acting as a passenger, were traveling to the village of Khatanga to procure fuel and supplies. The flight path had previously included stops through Tyumen, Megion, Bor, Turukhansk, and Norilsk during the expedition's duration.
The aircraft landed on the Khatanga River at 03:21. Following the landing, the aircraft was moved from the river to a parking area near the Khatanga port pier. To protect the control surfaces from wind damage, the crew secured the ailerons and rudders with four clamps and covered the cockpit. The pilot and passenger then departed for a hotel.
On the morning of August 10, 2016, the pilot returned to the aircraft at approximately 09:30. Holding a certificate as an aviation specialist in technical maintenance and repair, the pilot personally performed the pre-flight inspections and preparations. The flight was intended to continue from Khatanga toward the confluence of the Tukalan and Kotuy rivers for tourism purposes.
The investigation
Records indicate that the flight operated within Class C and Class G airspace, for which permission had been obtained on August 8, 2016. The investigation noted that the aircraft's engine is designed to operate using unleaded automotive gasoline with an octane rating of at least 95. The pilot conducted all necessary pre-flight maintenance and servicing personally prior to the scheduled 10:00 departure.