What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was on final approach to Verkhnyaya Akhtuba Airfield, located east of Stalingrad. During this phase of flight, the machine came under heavy attack from German fighters, sustaining significant damage. Despite the severity of the hits, the pilot managed to maintain control long enough to reach the vicinity of the airfield. However, the aircraft was unable to complete a normal landing and crash landed on the ground. Upon impact, the wreckage immediately burst into flames.
The accident resulted in three fatalities among the crew members. Additionally, two other individuals aboard were injured, while two others remained unharmed. The specific registration of the aircraft is not provided in the available records.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the engagement by enemy forces. The aircraft was shot down by German fighters, which caused the structural damage leading to the crash landing and subsequent fire.