What happened
During an operation to select suitable landing locations on moving ice within the Kara Sea, the crew attempted to land on a frozen surface. During the touchdown, the right ski of the aircraft type impacted a mound of snow. This impact caused both skis to be ripped from the structure. The landing resulted in significant damage to the fuselage and both lower wings.
Following the incident, all five occupants were successfully rescued from the site. The damaged aircraft was subsequently abandoned on the ice. The airframe was later lost when it sank due to the movement of an ice hummock.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the pilot's approach was slightly off-course when compared to the trajectory used by a previous aircraft that had successfully landed in the same area.