What happened
The PS-84 departed Moscow Central Airport on a special mission intended to ferry maintenance personnel to Cherepovets and Tikhvin. The aircraft was carrying four crew members and thirteen mechanics, whose task was to perform repairs on grounded airplanes at the destination airfields. During the leg from Cherepovets to Tikhvin, the plane came under fire from a German JU.88 fighter pilot.
After being hit, the pilot of the PS-84 attempted an emergency diversion to Podborovye Airfield. However, while on short final approach, the aircraft lost control and crashed approximately 300 metres from the airfield perimeter. The impact resulted in 16 fatalities among the occupants, with one passenger sustaining serious injuries.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the accident was caused by the aircraft being shot down by a German fighter during its flight.