What happened
In the afternoon, a single-engine An-2 departed from Kyren Airport carrying two pilots and four company employees. The flight was intended to serve as a reconnaissance mission to familiarize the crew with the terrain surrounding a planned aviation chemical facility. Following the departure, the aircraft failed to return to its destination that evening.
Search and rescue operations were launched immediately; however, these efforts were terminated several days later when no evidence of the plane could be located. The disappearance remained unsolved for over a year until July 24, 2021, when tourists located burnt wreckage in a rocky region near the Baikonur Pass at an altitude of 2,780 metres. The impact and subsequent post-crash fire resulted in six fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the aircraft collided with a mountain peak. The wreckage was found at an elevation of 2,780 metres, while the ridge in that area has a minimum height of 2,960 metres. Limited visibility caused by cloud cover obscured the mountain tops during the flight.
Several contributing factors were noted during the inquiry:
- The crew elected to fly over mountainous terrain despite forecasts predicting cloud-covered peaks and unfavorable winds.
- A decision was made to navigate back to the landing site using an unmapped and previously unused route through the range.
- The crew was experiencing operational fatigue, having worked more than 12 hours on the day of the incident.
- The aircraft was caught in descending air currents on the leeward side of a mountain slope.