Accident Overview
On a cargo flight from Murmansk-Murmashi Airport to Umba, the aircraft, carrying a crew of two, 158 kilograms of various goods, and 855 kilograms of mail, encountered deteriorating weather conditions shortly after takeoff. The crew deviated from the prescribed flight path by 3 kilometers to the right. In poor visibility, the single-engine airplane struck the slope of a snow-covered hill, 427 meters high, three meters below the summit. The aircraft passed over the opposite slope and came to rest upside down in flames, approximately 30 meters below the summit. The wreckage was located 20 kilometers south of Murmashi Airport.
Flight Details
The flight was a cargo operation from Murmansk-Murmashi Airport to Umba. The aircraft was crewed by two individuals. Onboard cargo included 158 kilograms of various goods and 855 kilograms of mail. No information on the aircraft type, registration, or engine count was provided in the source.
Accident Sequence
Minutes after departure, weather conditions deteriorated. The crew deviated from the prescribed flight path, veering right by 3 kilometers. In conditions of poor visibility, the aircraft struck a snow-covered hill. The impact occurred three meters below the summit of the 427-meter-high hill. After impact, the aircraft passed over the opposite slope and came to rest upside down, engulfed in flames, roughly 30 meters below the summit.
Wreckage and Injuries
The wreckage was found 20 kilometers south of Murmashi Airport. Both crew members were seriously injured. The captain succumbed to his injuries five days after the accident. The source did not specify the first officer's outcome beyond serious injuries.
Probable Cause
According to official findings, the probable cause was poor flight preparation on the part of the flying crew, who failed to follow the prescribed flight path after departure.