What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation traveling from Ust-Kubinsk, an aircraft was flying at an altitude of 200 meters with a velocity of 174 km/h. As the flight approached Vologda, heavy snowfall significantly reduced visibility. During this period, the aircraft struck another plane, an Aeroflot PZL-Mielec AN-2 with registration CCCP-96226, which was also operating a route toward Ust-Kubinsk. The collision occurred while both planes were in flight, leading to a crash in a marshy region situated 23 km north of Vologda. Investigators located the wreckage of both aircraft approximately 220 meters apart. There were two crew members on the cargo flight and a total of 16 fatalities across both involved aircraft.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was driven by low visibility and deteriorating weather conditions caused by ongoing snowfall. Additionally, the findings highlighted insufficient assistance from air traffic control services and improper decision-making during the flight.