What happened
On the afternoon of December 13, 2015, an A36TC Bonanza, registration RA-2587G, crashed during a flight traveling from the Mirny airfield near Kislovodsk, through Srednyaya Akhtuba, to Buzuluk. The aircraft was being operated by a private pilot and was carrying three passengers, all of whom were Russian citizens. There was no cargo on board at the time of the accident. The aircraft had previously arrived at the Mirny airfield on December 11, 2015, from Buzuluk. Following the arrival, the pilot and passengers stayed in Kislovodsk, with the pilot planning the return leg for the following day.
Prior to the accident, the pilot performed pre-flight preparations on the day of the flight. While the aircraft was not refueled at the Mirny airfield, witness reports indicated that approximately 100 liters of AI-98 gasoline were added to the aircraft during a stop at a landing site near Srednyaya Akhtuba. The pre-flight procedures at the Mirny airfield were reported by other pilots present at the site to have lasted no more than 15 minutes, though these preparations were not documented.
The investigation
Investigators examined the fuel levels and the aircraft's weight and balance. Although the exact amount of fuel on board at the time of departure could not be precisely determined, calculations suggested that if the aircraft had been fully refueled during the stop at Srednyaya Akhtuba, the remaining fuel upon reaching the Mirny airfield would have been at least 200 liters. The investigation also reviewed the aircraft's takeoff mass and center of gravity. Based on the flight conditions and the estimated fuel load, the commission determined that the takeoff weight and balance were within the limits specified in the aircraft's flight manual.