An-26 missing in Russian Far East

[ricardian]

An-26 down in Far East Kamchatka peninsula

The plane was flying from the regional centre Petropavlovsk. Reports say the plane crashed into the sea and a signal from its black box has been detected. Officials said 22 passengers, including one child, were on board, as well as six crew members.

[TheGreenGoblin]

The ever useful Aviation Herald report...

Crash: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky AN26 near Palana on Jul 6th 2021, missing aircraft impacted edge of coast

By Simon Hradecky, created Tuesday, Jul 6th 2021 06:46Z, last updated Tuesday, Jul 6th 2021 11:27Z

A Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka Aviation Antonov AN-26, registration RA-26085 performing flight PTK-251 from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky to Palana (Russia) with 22 passengers and 6 crew, was on approach to Palana in foggy and cloudy conditions when contact with the aircraft was lost. The aircraft has not landed at any airport. The aircraft was found collided with the top of the coastal slope about 3.8km (2.1nm) from the airport, there are no signs of survivors.

A search for the aircraft is underway, two helicopter and a number of search aircraft have been dispatched to check the route of the aircraft. Both approach routes to Palana over land and over the sea are being checked. A number of ships have been dispatched to a location at the sea to investigate a location where the aircraft might have come down, emergency services report. A weak ELT signal has been discovered.

Kamchatka's regional government reported contact with the aircraft was lost just when the aircraft was maneouvering to begin the final approach about 9km (5nm) before the airport at about 15:00L (03:00Z). The aircraft had departed Petropavlovsk at 12:57L (00:57Z) and was estimated to land at 15:05L (03:05Z). The aircraft carried 22 passengers and 6 crew. The government also published a list of the passenger names.

Kamchatka's government confirmed the wreckage has been located, parts of the aircraft were found in the water some dozen meters below the coastal edge where the aircraft impacted, some parts were found on the land.

No weather data are available for Palana.

Rosaviatsia reported the mountains around Palana were covered in clouds with broken cloud ceiling at 300 meters/1000 feet MSL and overcast cloud at 720 meters/2400 feet MSL.

The coast at the extended runway center line of Palana's runway 11 raises about 110 meters above the sea.

In 2012 another Antonov had crashed on approach to Palana, see Crash: Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky AN28 near Palana on Sep 12th 2012, missing aircraft impacted a slope.

https://avherald.com/h?article=4e9e6ae8&opt=0

http://avherald.com/h?article=455c0bcf/0000