Overview
On a positioning flight from Osinovka-Andreyevka to Almaty for crop-spraying operations, a single-engine airplane carrying the captain, copilot, two mechanics, and two local guides collided with a mountain ridge. The accident occurred about 15 kilometers northeast of Andreyevka Airport.
Flight Details
The flight was intended to reposition the airplane for crop-spraying duties at the sovkhoz (state farm) 'Andreyevski'. The captain chose to fly directly toward a mountain ridge known as Chubundy (Shybyndy) rather than circumventing it.
Accident Sequence
Shortly into the flight, the captain encountered weather conditions that were below the minimums required for safe flight. He decided to turn back to Andreyevka, but the attempt was made too late. While executing a turn in clouds at an altitude of 1,200 meters, the single-engine airplane struck the summit of a ridge.
Aftermath
The copilot, who was injured, managed to walk down the mountain to seek help. The captain sustained fatal injuries. The other five occupants—the second pilot (explicitly stated as copilot in source) and the four other passengers—were also injured.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be controlled flight into terrain resulting from wrong in-flight decisions made by the captain.