What happened
During a repositioning flight intended for agricultural spraying operations, an An-2 was traveling from Osinovka-Andreyevka toward Almaty. The aircraft was carrying the pilot, a co-pilot, two mechanics, and two local guides. During the transit, the captain chose to fly directly toward the Chubundy mountain ridge rather than navigating around it.
As the flight progressed, the crew encountered weather conditions that had fallen below established minimums. In an attempt to rectify the situation, the pilot initiated a return to Andreyevka. However, while performing a turn within cloud cover at an altitude of approximately 1,200 meters, the aircraft struck the summit of a ridge. The impact occurred roughly 15 km northeast of Andreyevka Airport.
Findings
The accident resulted in one fatality and five injuries. While the captain perished in the crash, the co-pilot sustained injuries but was able to descend the mountain on foot to seek assistance.