Yakutsk - Khandyga - Ust-Nera

On November 6, 1996 at 12:00 AM, Yakutsk - Khandyga - Ust-Nera experienced a crash involving Antonov AN-24, operated by Sakha Avia - Sakha Airlines, with the event recorded near Ust-Nera Republic of Yakutia (Sakha).

The flight was categorized as scheduled revenue flight and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a airport (less than 10 km from airport) crash site.

29 people were known to be on board, 0 fatalities were recorded, 29 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 0.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 0, passengers on board: 24, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is human factor. On approach to Ust-Nera Airport, following an uneventful flight from Khandyga, the crew mistook the new runway 85 (still under construction) for the operational runway 75 in poor visibility. When ATC realized this, they twice ordered the crew to go around but the crew failed to comply and touched down on runway 85. During the landing run, at a speed of 158 km/h, the captain attempted to go around but the check pilot aborted this attempt some seconds later. The confused flight engineer retracted the landing gear and the aircraft came to rest on its belly, suffering substantial damage. All 5 crew and 24 passengers escaped unhurt.

Aircraft reference details include registration RA-47356, MSN 67310605, year of manufacture 1976.