Incident Overview
The airplane was completing a flight from Kyzymshek to Shymkent with an intermediate stop in Shulakkurgan. Before departing Shulakkurgan, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions en route. The captain requested an alternative itinerary and was cleared by ATC to take a different route to the west. However, shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and did not return.
Circumstances of the Accident
While cruising in low clouds and rain showers, the single-engine airplane struck the slope of a mountain at an altitude of 454 meters in the Karamuryn Mountain Range. When the airplane failed to arrive at destination, search and rescue operations were initiated. The burnt wreckage was found two days later approximately 35 km northeast of Shieli. All 13 occupants were killed.
Official Findings
According to the official investigation, the accident was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain in below-minima weather conditions. The captain decided to conduct the flight despite poor weather and failed to return, violating all established procedures. ATC was also found to have acted irresponsibly by clearing the crew to take an alternative route to the west. Additionally, the meteorologist had published bulletins with inaccurate information, as weather conditions were worse than predicted. Mismanagement of the flight, poor organization of operations, and poor decisions by various actors involved in organizing the flight were considered contributing factors.