What happened
A single-engine aircraft was operating a cargo mission from Okhotsk to Severny in the Ayan district of the Khabarskov region. The flight was tasked with delivering five barrels of oil to support an ongoing aerological expedition.
While traversing the Dzhugdzhur Mountain Range, the crew encountered intense downdrafts. These atmospheric conditions caused the plane to lose altitude rapidly. The aircraft subsequently struck a mountain slope at an elevation of 800 metres. The impact occurred on a peak measuring 1,450 metres in height, situated approximately 12 km from the Severny Ui Airstrip.
Following the failure of the flight to reach its destination, search and rescue operations were launched. Rescuers located the charred remains of the wreckage on June 4. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both pilots were killed in the crash.
Findings
The investigation determined that the primary factor in the accident was the loss of control in-flight resulting from powerful downdrafts encountered while flying over rugged, mountainous terrain.