Accident Overview
A pilot conducting crop-spraying operations from Olkhovatka made an unauthorized flight leg from Breusovka (Kozelshchina district, Poltava region) to Olkhovatka with two unauthorized passengers on board. Shortly after takeoff from Olkhovatka, the aircraft experienced engine problems. The fuel was contaminated with water. The pilot, heavily intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration of 3.8‰, attempted an emergency landing in a field. The aircraft came down hard and broke up on impact.
Casualties and Injuries
The pilot and one passenger were killed in the accident. A second passenger sustained serious injuries.
Probable Cause
According to official findings, the probable cause of the accident was engine failure due to contaminated fuel, compounded by the pilot's intoxication.