Accident Details
On a flight from Urdzhar to Semipalatinsk, during the leg from Urdzhar to Ayaguz, the flight crew encountered weather conditions that were below minimum standards. The weather included snowfall and poor visibility. Instead of returning to the departure point or diverting, the crew continued. They failed to return in time and lost their spatial orientation. As a result, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Tikasu at an altitude of 1,850 meters. The mountain itself rises to 2,151 meters. The impact occurred about 30 kilometers from the settlement of Nekrasovka. Following the crash, the aircraft caught fire and was completely destroyed. All six people on board—both pilots and four passengers—sustained injuries.
Rescue Operations
After the crash, the captain departed from the accident site on February 13, 1968. He traversed deep snow in mountainous terrain and reached Nekrasovka after an 18-hour walk. The other five occupants remained at the crash site. They were rescued and evacuated the following day, February 14, 1968, by a Mil Mi-4 helicopter crew.
Official Finding
The official probable cause, as determined by investigators, was that the crew decided to continue the flight in adverse weather conditions and below-minimum visibility.