What happened
A three-engine aircraft departed from Irkutsk-Magan Airport at 22:29 local time, heading north toward Bratsk Airport. During the initial cruise phase at an altitude of 6,000 meters, weather conditions remained favorable. As the flight prepared for its descent into Bratsk, the crew received a weather update indicating clear conditions with visibility extending to 50 km and no precipitation.
However, as the aircraft transitioned to its night approach, meteorological conditions significantly worsened, characterized by heavy rain and snow showers that reduced visibility to just one kilometer. While on short final approach, the aircraft type lost altitude and collided with trees. The impact was followed by a fire that consumed the wreckage approximately 225 meters from the initial impact site, roughly 1,250 meters before reaching the runway threshold. The accident resulted in 18 fatalities, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations revealed that air traffic control in Bratsk provided the crew with an incorrect weather bulletin, as the information transmitted actually described conditions from 23:15 local time. Controllers were unable to secure a more recent briefing before passing the inaccurate data to the flight crew. During the final approach, heavy precipitation and associated downdrafts caused the aircraft to lose necessary altitude. Additionally, investigators did not rule out the possibility that the crew may have accidentally engaged reverse thrust during the final stages of the approach.