Incident Overview
During a descent to Zheleznogorsk-Ilimskiy Airport after an uneventful flight from Irkutsk-Magan Airport, a three-engine airplane collided with a Soviet Air Force Mil Mi-8 helicopter. The helicopter, registered CCCP-22268, was inbound from Bratsk and completing a training mission with seven people on board. The collision occurred on final approach at an altitude of 400 meters. Horizontal visibility at the time was 20 km.
Aftermath
Following the collision, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded, hilly terrain approximately 11 km from the airport. Both aircraft burst into flames. All 40 occupants in both aircraft were killed.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the collision was the consequence of poor ATC surveillance, which caused both aircraft to initiate an approach without ensuring that they each maintained a minimum separation in accordance with published procedures. This situation allowed the helicopter to cut off the approach path of the airplane. The lack of radio communications between the three parties concerned remained a contributing factor.