What happened
The incident involved a cargo flight operating between Balashov and Kursk. The aircraft was transporting three M-105 engines as its payload. Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to an altitude of approximately 50 meters, the plane experienced a stall. It descended to roughly 10 meters before recovering to about 30 meters, at which point it stalled again. The aircraft subsequently crashed into an open field located seven kilometers from the airport. The impact resulted in a fire that destroyed the airframe, and all six crew members were killed.
Findings
Investigation revealed that one of the M-105 engines was not properly secured. After takeoff, the restraint system failed, allowing the engine to break through the cabin floor. This structural breach trapped the elevator cables, rendering the flight controls inoperable. Consequently, the crew could not maintain control of the aircraft, leading to the fatal stall and crash. Contributory factors included improper restraining methods used by ground personnel and a failure by the flight crew to adequately supervise the loading and installation process.