What happened
During a flight at an altitude of 9,000 meters, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control. Before the situation escalated, the copilot managed to transmit a brief distress signal. Following this communication, the plane entered a steep dive that lasted approximately two minutes and thirty seconds. The descent ended when the aircraft broke apart upon impact in a forested region near Voznesenka, situated roughly 28 km east of Krasnoyarsk Airport.
The crash resulted in the total destruction of the plane and the deaths of all 84 occupants. Post-accident observations noted that the remains of those on board exhibited signs of significant thermal damage and burns.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the disaster was linked to a military training operation being conducted by Soviet Army Forces in the Magansk area. During this exercise, several surface-to-air missiles were launched. It was determined that one missile struck the left side of the fuselage, creating a 20 cm puncture. This impact caused the aircraft to become uncontrollable and enter the fatal dive.