What happened
The incident occurred during a night takeoff from Moscow-Bykovo Airport. Shortly after leaving the ground, the captain instructed the crew to extinguish the landing lights and retract the landing gear. The aircraft struggled to gain altitude and began banking to the left. This maneuver caused the left engine and propeller assembly to strike the terrain. After traveling approximately 150 meters, the airframe collided with a utility pole and overhead wires before coming to rest in a garden area. The impact and subsequent fire destroyed the aircraft.
Six people were killed, including five passengers and a radio operator. Eight others were injured, some of them seriously, while the remaining occupants escaped without injury.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the pilot in command experienced spatial disorientation immediately after liftoff, triggered by the extinguishing of the landing lights. The combination of night conditions and poor visibility eliminated ground visual references, leading to a loss of aircraft control.
Additional contributing factors included significant crew fatigue, as the pilot had accumulated more than 11 flying hours per day over the three days preceding the accident. The lack of effective assistance from the co-pilot was also identified as a factor in the outcome.