Incident Overview
Description
The Li-2 operated on a flight from Moscow to Ust’-Kamenogorsk. During the leg from Sverdlovsk to Petropavlovsk, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path at night with the wind being stronger than forecast. En route the radio compass failed and the Petropavlovsk Airport was closed due to bad weather. The crew decided to divert to Kurgan but as contact with the airport could not be established in time they decided to return to Sverdlovsk. In the meantime the aircraft had strayed 120 km off course and the crew realised that fuel would not be sufficient to reach Sverdlovsk. It was decided to head for Petropavlovsk, but failed to locate the airport, while being in fact 215 km north-east of Petropavlovsk Airport. As the aircraft ran out of fuel, a forced landing in heavy snowfall became inevitable. The aircraft landed wheels-up in a snow-covered field 10 km west of Omutinskaya railway station, Tyumen region and broke up. All 5 crew and 2 of the 4 passengers were killed.
Primary Cause
Radio compass failure and adverse weather conditions.Radio compass failure and adverse weather conditions.Share on:
