On March 8, 1944, a Lisunov LI-2 (registration CCCP-L4064) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Novoyur'ivka, Ukraine in flight. 8 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by four German Messerschmitt Bf.109 fighters during a combat mission. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A military aircraft was intercepted and destroyed by four German Messerschmitt Bf.109 fighters while conducting a troop drop for the 3rd Ukrainian Front, resulting in the deaths of all eight crew members.
What happened
The incident occurred during an active combat operation supporting the 3rd Ukrainian Front. The aircraft was performing a mission to deploy soldiers when it came under attack from enemy forces. Four pilots flying Messerschmitt Bf.109 fighters engaged the target, successfully shooting down the Soviet plane. Following the impact, the aircraft lost all control and crashed into the outskirts of Novoyur'ivka. The collision with the ground was fatal for everyone on board, resulting in eight fatalities.
Findings
Official investigations confirmed that the loss of the aircraft was directly caused by aerial combat. The specific action of four German fighter pilots shooting down the plane while it was engaged in a tactical dropping mission is cited as the sole contributing factor to the crash.
Probable cause
The aircraft was shot down by four German Messerschmitt Bf.109 fighters during a combat mission.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…