What happened
On the flight from Khabarovsk to Ayan, which included a scheduled stop in Poliny Osipenko, an Antonov aircraft was transporting 14 passengers and two crew members. Prior to departing from Poliny Osiplyenko, the flight crew received reports indicating that visibility at the destination in Ayan was approximately 5 km.
During the final approach to Ayan, weather conditions worsened significantly due to the development of fog and low-level stratus clouds. In an attempt to reach the destination, the crew began their descent earlier than planned. Following the initial turn, the aircraft was flying at an altitude of 800 metres, which was below the necessary 950 metres required for the approach. While traveling at a speed of 283 km/h, the aircraft drifted 2.3 km to the right of the established approach path and entered a layer of low stratus at an altitude of 320 metres.
As visibility dropped to just 50 metres, the crew lost sight of the ground, yet the captain elected to proceed with the approach. At an altitude of 188 metres, the aircraft struck a hill measuring 226 metres in height near the coast of the Okhotsk Sea. The impact and subsequent fire caused the total destruction of the aircraft, and all 16 fatalities were recorded.
Findings
- The crew began the descent procedure at an altitude lower than the required 950 metres.
- Rapidly deteriorating weather conditions, specifically low stratus and fog, significantly reduced visibility to 50 metres.
- The aircraft deviated from the intended approach pattern by 2.3 km.