What happened
On the morning of the accident, a single-engine aircraft departed from Ekimchan Airport at 08:34 local time. The flight was operating as a cargo mission destined for Udskoye, transporting 1,199 kilograms of various goods. The flight crew consisted of two pilots.
Approximately six minutes into the flight, while the aircraft was climbing through an altitude of 1,600 meters, the crew detected a potent odor of fuel within the cockpit. In response to this indication, the pilots initiated an immediate return to the departure airfield. During the descent phase, the engine began to run roughly and emitted visible flames. The engine eventually ceased functioning as the aircraft approached the runway on short final.
Following the loss of engine power, the aircraft entered a stall. The plane struck a birch tree and crashed into a wooded area situated 132 meters before the threshold of runway 06. A post-crash fire erupted upon impact, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. The accident resulted in one fatality (the copilot) and one serious injury (the captain).
Findings
- The crew identified a fuel smell during the initial climb.
- Engine failure and fire occurred during the descent.
- The aircraft's descent ended in a stall and impact with vegetation.