2012 Serov Airport Aircraft Disappearance and Recovery (RA-40312)

Incident Overview and Search Efforts On the evening of 11 June 2012, a group of 13 people departed from Serov Airport at 2200 local time on an unauthorized flight with an unknown destination. The aircraft failed to return and was lost without trace. Local authorities conducted search and rescue operations covering more than 275,000 square kilometers until 23 July 2012, but the search was unsuccessful. ## Discovery of Wreckage On Saturday, 5 May 2013, local hunters discovered the burnt wreckage and skeletonized remains of the bodies on a marshland approximately 10 kilometers southwest of Serov Airport. ## Official Findings The official probable cause indicated that the airplane was believed to have been flying at low altitude when its left lower wing impacted tree tops. The aircraft then rolled to the left to an angle of 90 degrees and crashed, bursting into flames. At the time of the accident, the pilot and other occupants were intoxicated.