What happened
The pilot initiated a communication flight departing from Burluk with the intended destination of Olkhovka. During the en-route phase, meteorological conditions deteriorated significantly. The decision to abort the mission and return to the departure point was made later than optimal given the worsening environment.
As heavy snowfall intensified, the pilot lost control of the aircraft. The machine subsequently dove into the terrain and crashed in the area of Ostrovskaya. The impact resulted in the death of the pilot. At the time of the accident, local visibility was recorded at less than 15 metres, accompanied by strong winds and heavy snow accumulation.
Findings
Official investigations identified a combination of factors contributing to the fatal outcome. The primary environmental factor was the rapid deterioration of weather conditions during the flight, characterized by heavy snow and critically low visibility. A significant operational error was the pilot's delayed decision to turn back after the weather situation worsened.
Additionally, the Squadron Leader issued takeoff clearance based solely on the actual weather conditions at the departure and arrival points at that specific moment. This clearance was granted without a comprehensive analysis of the overall meteorological situation, which likely contributed to the lack of preparedness for the en-route deterioration.