What happened
A flight operating between Khabarovsk and Ayan, which included a scheduled stop at Poliny Osipenko, was carrying two crew members and 14 passengers when the accident occurred. Prior to departing from Poliny Osipenko, the flight crew received reports indicating that visibility at the destination in Ayan was approximately 5 km. However, as the aircraft approached its destination, weather conditions worsened significantly due to fog and low-level stratus clouds.
During the approach, 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 required 950 metres. While traveling at a speed of 283 km/h, the aircraft drifted 2.3 km to the right of the intended approach path and entered a layer of low stratus at 320 metres. Despite visibility dropping to just 50 metres and the loss of visual ground contact, the captain elected to proceed with the approach.
The aircraft eventually struck a hill measuring 226 metres in height at an altitude of 188 metres near the coast of the Okhotsk Sea. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in 16 fatalities, leaving no survivors. The aircraft was completely destroyed during the event.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to the crew's decision-making and operational procedures. The primary cause was controlled flight into terrain resulting from a premature descent and a failure to adhere to established approach protocols.
Key findings included:
- The decision to continue the approach despite weather conditions being below minimum visibility requirements.
- A failure by the crew to obtain updated weather information for both Ayan and the designated alternate airport.
- The captain's choice to proceed at decision height without visual contact with the terrain and the subsequent failure to execute a go-around.
- Deviations from the established approach pattern.
- An error by the meteorological observer in failing to provide an updated weather bulletin.
- A lack of communication between air traffic control and the meteorological observer during adverse weather conditions.
- The absence of radio navigational aids at the Ayan Airport.