What happened
During a geophysical survey mission over the Baykit region, a single-engine aircraft departed from Yeniseysk under favorable weather conditions. The flight was operated with a crew of three and two passengers on board. As the mission progressed, meteorological conditions worsened, characterized by low cloud cover and significantly reduced visibility.
In an effort to maintain visual contact with the terrain, the pilot lowered the flight altitude to approximately 65 metres. While navigating through the area, the pilot encountered trees and attempted to increase altitude to clear the obstacles. While flying at a speed of 115 km/h, the aircraft type struck treetops, leading to a crash in the hilly, forested landscape.
Findings
- All five occupants survived the impact without injury.
- The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
- The primary factor in the accident was the impact with trees during an attempt to gain altitude while flying at low altitude in poor visibility.