What happened
On March 14, while stationed in the Eldari region for a spraying mission, the crew of a single-engine aircraft prepared to conduct engine testing. Because no official flight was scheduled for that day, the captain requested that the co-pilot vacate his seat so a mechanic could participate in the test run. During this period, three individuals from a nearby farm boarded the plane without authorization.
At 12:28 local time, the pilot initiated takeoff with the flaps set at 20°. The flight occurred during periods of poor weather, specifically characterized by fog and visibility levels that were below established minimums. Shortly after departing, while the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 25 to 30 meters, it entered a right-hand turn. During this maneuver, the plane lost altitude and struck a field roughly 600 meters from the departure point. The accident resulted in one fatality and five injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the pilot-in-command proceeded with an unapproved local test flight without a co-pilot present. The aircraft was operating in conditions where horizontal visibility was only 300 meters and fog descended to 50 meters. The primary factor leading to the loss of control was an excessive correction by the pilot during a 30-degree right bank, which rendered the aircraft uncontrollable and led to the impact.