On July 20, 1973, an Antonov AN-2 (registration CCCP-79827) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Saatly, Azerbaijan in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Bird strike. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
During a crop spraying flight over a cotton field in the Saatly district of Azerbaijan, a bird strike caused engine failure. While attempting a forced landing, the aircraft struck a canal embankment. The captain was injured and the copilot was killed.
Incident
The crew was conducting a crop spraying flight over a cotton field belonging to the kolkhoz (collective farm) im. M.F. Akhundova in the Saatly district of Azerbaijan. The aircraft was cruising at an altitude of 20 to 25 meters when a bird strike caused the engine to fail. Due to the terrain topography, an immediate forced landing was not possible. The crew initiated a left turn in an attempt to find a suitable landing area. During the turn, the aircraft struck the high embankment of a canal and subsequently crashed. The captain sustained injuries, while the copilot was killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident to be a bird strike.