What happened
During a scheduled cargo transport from Slavgorod to Samara, an aircraft carrying 10.8 tons of hydraulic fluid in barrels experienced a critical malfunction shortly after departure. While the aircraft was ascending to an altitude of approximately 50 meters, both the second and fourth engines ceased functioning at the same time.
Following the loss of power, the crew issued an emergency declaration and received instructions to return to the airfield. However, due to the low altitude and lack of engine performance, the captain determined a return to the runway was unfeasible. The pilot initiated an emergency descent into an open field situated roughly 8.6 km from the airport.
The landing was performed with the landing gear retracted and flaps not deployed. Upon impact with the ground, the tail section of the aircraft detached from the main fuselage. The plane slid across the terrain for several dozen meters before catching fire. There were six injuries recorded among the crew members, with four of those individuals sustaining serious wounds.
Findings
Investigations into the dual engine failure concluded that a group of birds took flight from a nearby wheat field during the aircraft's initial climb. The collision of several birds with engines n°2 and n°4 caused the immediate loss of power to both units.