On October 6, 2013, an Antonov AN-2 (registration RA-31505) operated by Sputnik was involved in an aviation accident near Sevryukovo, Russia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: An investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee revealed that the airplane carried a false registration and was flown without a certificate of airworthiness. Since the airplane was not officially registered, the IAC terminated their investigation. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
An aircraft under restoration crashed after an engine failure near Sevryukovo, Belgorod region. Both occupants escaped uninjured. The Interstate Aviation Committee found the aircraft had a false registration and no certificate of airworthiness, terminating their investigation.
Incident
An aircraft that had been purchased in 2000 and stored since then was under restoration starting in August 2013. The crew, consisting of one pilot and one engineer, decided to perform a test flight in the region of Sevryukovo, located in the Korocha District of the Belgorod region. During the flight, the engine failed, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft impacted the ground and crashed, coming to rest upside down and bursting into flames. Both occupants were able to escape and were uninjured. The aircraft sustained partial destruction due to the fire.
Investigation
The Interstate Aviation Committee (IAC) conducted an investigation into the incident. Their findings revealed that the airplane carried a false registration and was flown without a certificate of airworthiness. Because the aircraft was not officially registered, the IAC terminated their investigation into the accident.
Aftermath
No further details were provided regarding the occupants or the aircraft's origin. The false registration and lack of airworthiness prevented a full investigation from being completed.
Probable cause
An investigation by the Interstate Aviation Committee revealed that the airplane carried a false registration and was flown without a certificate of airworthiness. Since the airplane was not officially registered, the IAC terminated their investigation.