What happened
On June 12, 2009, a Cessna 150L, registration RA-0848G, departed Yoshkar-Ola for a flight route including Menzelinck and Urmantau. Although the flight plan was filed as a training mission, the flight was actually being used for transport to visit relatives. After departing Yoshkar-Ola at 05:00, the pilot landed at 11:20 at a location near Urmantau that had been selected from the air. This landing took place in a field rather than at a certified airfield.
Following the arrival, the pilot prepared for a return flight scheduled for June 15, 2009. To facilitate the departure, the pilot and several acquaintances created an improvised runway using a section of a straight, gravel-covered rural road. This process involved clearing trees and shrubs from the roadside to create a strip approximately 550 to 600 meters long and 12 meters wide.
The investigation
The investigation examined the flight documentation and the physical conditions of the takeoff site. It was noted that the pilot had completed a pre-flight medical exam and received necessary weather and ATC clearances in Yoshkar-Ola. However, the investigation focused on the discrepancy between the filed flight purpose and the actual mission, as well as the technical legality of the landing and takeoff sites.
Findings
- The landing in a field violated the Cessna 150L Maintenance Manual, which stipulates that the aircraft must only operate from airfields with prepared or unpaved runways.
- The improvised runway was constructed from a dirt and gravel road with significant roadside embankments, ranging from 1 to 4 meters in depth.
- The presence of these steep embankments meant there was no safety margin for the aircraft in the event of a deviation from the centerline during the takeoff or landing roll.