Departure and Weather
The flight departed Volodarka Airfield in the morning for a local flight. Weather conditions at departure were considered marginal but acceptable for the operation. Approximately 30 minutes after takeoff, conditions deteriorated as fog developed, significantly reducing visibility.
Loss of Control and Impact
The pilot-in-command was unable to locate the airfield due to the fog. While descending over snow-covered ground, the pilot lost control of the airplane. The aircraft struck the ground at 160 km/h and continued 60 meters before coming to rest. The captain sustained serious injuries, and the copilot was killed.
Official Findings
The probable cause of the accident was determined to be the pilot-in-command's loss of control due to spatial disorientation while approaching a snow-covered field in limited visibility of 300 meters caused by fog. Contributing factors included poor flight preparation, weather conditions worse than forecast, the fog not being forecast, and the crew's decision to initiate the flight in unfavorable weather.