What happened
A scheduled flight departing from Ust-Kara for Naryan-Mar, which included a planned stop in Karatayka, encountered extreme weather conditions. The single engine airplane was transporting ten passengers and two crew members when the flight crew reported encountering severe icing.
As the aircraft approached Karatayka, the accumulation of ice significantly impacted performance. Despite operating at maximum engine power, the pilot was unable to maintain an altitude higher than 200 meters. Due to the deteriorating situation, the crew initially intended to divert to Varandey, but eventually attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft subsequently crashed in a snow-covered region situated approximately 10 km northwest of Karatayka. The accident resulted in two fatalities, including the captain and one passenger, while 10 others sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors related to the crew's decision-making and flight management. The primary cause was the inability to maintain flight parameters due to ice accumulation affecting both thrust and aerodynamic performance.
Contributing elements included:
- A failure by the captain to assess the risks associated with takeoff during potential icing conditions.
- A delay in altering the flight plan despite receiving reports of weather conditions that had dropped below the required thresholds for night VFR operations.
- Failure to adhere to VFR regulations regarding extended flight time within active icing environments.