What happened
A cargo flight operating from Yaroslavl Airport toward Pechora was conducting a series of enroute stops when an accident occurred near Vologda. At 10:32 local time, the single-engine aircraft was transiting the area at an altitude of approximately 125 meters. During this phase of flight, it collided with another AN-2TP, registration CCCP-40563, which had recently departed from Vologda bound for Babushkina.
The second aircraft, carrying a crew of two and six passengers, was involved in the impact but managed to execute an emergency landing. Conversely, the first aircraft lost control following the collision and crashed into a nearby field. The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving both pilots of the cargo plane, while all eight occupants on the second aircraft survived without injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the collision identified that the crew failed to follow established communication and navigation protocols with Air Traffic Control. Additionally, it was noted that the cargo aircraft departed Yaroslavl exceeding its maximum takeoff weight by 150 kilograms. This excessive weight contributed to a reduction in airspeed, causing the flight to arrive over Vologda later than its scheduled arrival time.