The plane took off from Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport (LED) with an unusually large angle of pitch and began to sway from left to right. It flew 2,500 meters at a height of 30-50 m at near-critical angles of attack. The airplane descended with a high angle of attack and a slight right roll at a speed of 200 km/h. After flying for only 5,300 meters, the airplane fell into a snow-covered field at a distance of 2,190 meters from the end of the runway and 290 m to the right of its axis. It skidded for 210 m before coming to rest. An investigation revealed that the crew forgot to select the flaps prior to takeoff in what appears to be a hurried takeoff.