Accident Sequence
The crew departed Leningrad-Shosseynaya Airport at 0947 local time for a local training mission. Weather conditions at the time were poor, with low clouds at 200 meters, mist, and visibility less than 5 km. The crew was instructed to complete the training mission in the vicinity of the airfield. Early in the afternoon, ATC authorized the crew to continue the mission. While cruising at an altitude of 2,100 meters, the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane, which entered a dive. After crossing the last cloud layer, the pilot attempted to regain control but was unable to do so before the aircraft crashed in a field in Dachnoe, less than one kilometer north of the airfield. The aircraft was totally destroyed, and all nine occupants were killed: three pilots, four instructors, and two passengers.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that the loss of control occurred while the crew was simulating the failure of the right engine in cloudy conditions. Most probably due to successive errors, or possibly due to spatial disorientation affecting the pilot-in-command, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. The pilot elected to regain control after passing the last cloud layer (at 200 meters from the ground), but the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient to recover. Additionally, the presence of two civilians on board was against published regulations.
Probable Cause
The loss of control occurred while the crew was simulating the failure of the right engine in cloudy conditions. Most probably due to successive errors, or maybe due to a spatial disorientation that affected the pilot-in-command, the airplane went out of control and entered a dive. The pilot elected to regain control after passing the last cloud layer (200 meters from the ground) but the distance between the aircraft and the ground was insufficient. The presence of two civilians on board was against the published regulation.