Accident Details
Shortly after takeoff from Bykovo Airport, while climbing to a height of 20-30 meters, the right engine failed. The aircraft subsequently lost height, collided with trees, and eventually crashed onto a house located less than one kilometer from the airfield. The airplane burst into flames and was totally destroyed, as was the house. All five crew members were killed, while no one on the ground was injured. The owner of the house had left his home just three minutes before the accident.
Flight Information
At the time of the accident, the crew was completing a mail flight to Svedlovsk with an intermediate stop in Gorki. The aircraft was carrying a load of 1,989 kilograms of mail and newspapers.
Investigation and Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the failure of the right engine was caused by an act of sabotage. A nut was found in the fuel line, which caused the fuel pump to fail during the initial climb. The investigation also noted that a similar case had been detected eight days prior to the crash.