On June 7, 1995, a Let L-410 (registration 146) operated by Latvian Air Force - Latvijas Gaisa Spēki was involved in an aviation accident near Riga-Lielvārdes AFB, Latvia in flight. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's attempt to perform dangerous maneuvers led to a loss of aircraft control. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).
A local training flight ended in a fatal crash on a runway at Riga-Lielvārdes AFB after the pilot attempted a maneuver that resulted in loss of control.
What happened
During a routine training mission conducted at Riga-Lielvārdes Air Base, an aircraft was performing local maneuvers. While flying at an altitude between 150 and 200 meters directly above runway 36, the pilot-in-command initiated a barrel roll. During this specific maneuver, the crew lost control of the aircraft.
The subsequent impact occurred on the runway surface, leading to the total destruction of the airframe. The accident resulted in two fatalities, as both occupants of the aircraft were killed in the crash.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary reason for the accident was the loss of control following the execution of hazardous flight maneuvers by the crew.
Probable cause
The pilot's attempt to perform dangerous maneuvers led to a loss of aircraft control.