Accident Details
The aircraft, fresh from the PZL-Mielec factory in Mielec, Poland, was being delivered to Novosibirsk via Lvov, Samara, and Omsk. On board were three crew members and one passenger. The flight departed Omsk at noon for the final leg to Novosibirsk under good weather conditions, heading east.
Weather and Maneuvers
As the aircraft approached Tatarsk, weather conditions worsened, with cloud base descending to 150 meters above ground. The pilot-in-command reduced altitude in an attempt to maintain visual contact with the ground. At an altitude of 199 meters, the single-engine airplane struck with its both right wings a relay antenna that was 202 meters high, located about 5 kilometers northeast of Tatarsk.
Crash and Fatalities
After the collision, the aircraft became uncontrollable, lost height, and crashed 280 meters further into a snow-covered field, bursting into flames. All four occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the crew failed to properly prepare the flight and decided to continue operating under visual flight rules (VFR) into low clouds with visibility below minima. Additionally, the personnel responsible for transmitting the weather bulletin to the crew failed to ensure the information was accurate. Contributing factors included a lack of discipline and wrong in-flight decisions on the part of the crew.