What happened
During an expedition support mission, an aircraft flying from Nelkan to Udskoye encountered severe weather conditions consisting of heavy fog and low cloud cover. As the flight approached its destination, the visibility dropped below established minimums. Rather than initiating a missed approach or returning to the previous waypoint, the aircraft drifted 14 km to the left of its intended flight path.
The aircraft subsequently struck a wooded slope at an altitude of approximately 300 metres, which was roughly 150 metres above the elevation of the Udskoye airport. The impact and the resulting post-crash fire resulted in the total destruction of the airframe. Of the three people on board, one fatality was recorded, while the remaining two crew members sustained serious injuries. Search teams located the wreckage and the survivors one day after the accident.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary factor in the accident was the decision by the crew to proceed with the approach despite weather conditions being below safe operating minimums. This failure to divert or return to a known safe altitude led to the aircraft deviating from its path and striking terrain.