Investigation Summary
The aircraft departed Irkutsk at 06:18 local time for its second mission of the day. The flight was operating in extremely challenging conditions, with thick smoke from the surrounding wildfires significantly reducing visibility. At 06:34, the aircraft stopped responding to radio calls while flying at approximately 3,000 meters. The wreckage was not located for two days due to the remote, mountainous terrain and the persistent smoke layer that hampered aerial search efforts. When found, the debris field indicated a high-energy impact with a hillside near the village of Uyan. Investigators noted that the crew had chosen a low-altitude flight profile to effectively drop water on the fire line. Analysis of the flight recorders suggested that in the final seconds, the crew attempted to climb, but the aircraft's tail clipped a hillock. This led to a total loss of control as the airframe struck trees and the main hillside.
Final Conclusions
The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) investigation is ongoing. Preliminary findings suggest that human, equipment, and environmental factors may have all contributed to the crash. Investigators are examining the crew's decision to fly at minimum altitude in conditions of limited visibility caused by intense smoke. Additionally, the investigation is considering whether hot air from the wildfires reduced engine thrust, potentially degrading the aircraft's climb performance during the attempted pull-up.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Leonid Semyonovich Filin
First Officer
Alexei Alekseevich Lebedev
Navigator
Georgy Lavrentievich Petrov
Systems & Failure Modes
VAP-2 Firefighting System
A modular internal tank system that allows the Il-76 to carry and drop approximately 42,000 liters of water or retardant.
Flight Recorders
Both the FDR and CVR were recovered; despite heat damage, investigators successfully extracted data showing no mechanical failures.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was nearly 22 years old at the time of the accident.
- 02The crash site was so remote that ground vehicles could not reach it, requiring rescuers to parachute in.
- 03The tail section was the only major part of the aircraft not consumed by the post-impact fire.
- 04The captain had over 12,000 hours of flying experience.
- 05The aircraft's Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) was 1033417553.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Operational Restrictions in Low Visibility
Source ↗Following the accident, the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations reviewed protocols for aerial firefighting, emphasizing the hazards of low-altitude maneuvering in conditions where smoke significantly restricts visibility and terrain awareness.
Location
ACCIDENT SITE · Coordinates taken from the wikidata coordinate.