Single-engine aircraft crash in Konder Mountain Range

2 fatalities • Mt Konder, Russia • Flight

A cargo flight ended in a fatal mountain collision after the crew attempted to continue their mission despite deteriorating weather conditions.

What happened

During a scheduled cargo operation, the flight encountered increasingly severe meteorological conditions. Rather than diverting back to the point of departure, the crew elected to proceed with the mission. While operating the single-engine aircraft under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) while actually flying in Instrument Meteorological Conditions (IMC), the plane impacted a mountain slope within the Konder Mountain Range. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the airframe and two fatalities, as both pilots on board perished in the crash.

Findings

Investigations into the accident identified that the visibility had significantly degraded due to heavy rainfall and low-hanging cloud cover, creating conditions more severe than those originally predicted in the weather forecast. The primary factor leading to the accident was controlled flight into terrain resulting from the decision to maintain VFR flight parameters while flying through IMC.

Probable cause

The crew's decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions led to a controlled flight into terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1985-08-14 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Mt Konder, Russia?

A cargo flight ended in a fatal mountain collision after the crew attempted to continue their mission despite deteriorating weather conditions.

Were there any fatalities in the 1985-08-14 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1985-08-14 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-17992, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Mt Konder, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew's decision to continue the flight under visual flight rules despite encountering instrument meteorological conditions led to a controlled flight into terrain.

Loading the flight search…