At 18:24 the flight requested a position report and ATC responded that radar showed the aircraft 75 kilometers from Olyokminsk on a heading of 271 degrees.

Three hours and 22 minutes later the crew of an Antonov An-2 flying west of Olekminsk discovered several fires burning on the ground.

She apparently did not suffer in any way, and seemed to be a fabulous fairytale who had fallen asleep in this magical dressed up Christmas forest ... [4] The accident was investigated by the State Supervisory Commission for Flight Safety.

The agency compiled data from ATC including recorded radio transmissions and radar plots in an attempt to determine the cause.

Investigators discovered that the aircraft suddenly entered a steep descent followed by both wings and the empennage separating from the fuselage due to high aerodynamic loads.

The aircraft struck trees then crashed into the ground heavily and was completely destroyed by impact forces and fire.