(one cycle equals one takeoff and landing)[2] The flight departed Leningrad-Pulkovo Airport at 2:21 pm.

Weather conditions deteriorated around the destination of Murmansk with snow, cumulonimbus clouds at 260 meters and visibility of 1.5 km.

At 15:50, 7 minutes before the estimated time of arrival, the air traffic controller informed the flight of the deteriorating weather conditions at the airport and instructed the flight to fly at an altitude of 2400 meters; shortly thereafter he ordered the aircraft to reduce altitude again to reach 700 meters.

After hitting the ice the aircraft lost the left wing, and the fuselage broke in two, separating from the cockpit.

Secondary reasons for the crash included that the airport was not equipped with glidepath approach lights, and the air traffic controller had failed to warn the crew that their altitude was too low relative to their proximity to the runway.