What happened
In late April 2016, a crew consisting of a pilot-in-command, a co-pilot, and an aircraft technician began performing agricultural work using an An-2 agricultural aircraft, registration RA-33642. On June 20, 2016, the co-pilot left the crew without notice. Following this departure, the pilot-in-command continued to operate the aircraft for agricultural spraying missions without the required second pilot, in direct violation of the aircraft's flight manual requirements.
On June 22, 2016, the pilot-in-command decided to fly to the Novopokrovskoye area accompanied only by the aircraft technician. On June 29, 2016, a former pilot, acting as a passenger, joined the crew at this location at the pilot's request. During the operations on June 29 and June 30, 2016, witnesses reported that the pilot-in-command and the passenger consumed alcoholic beverages, including during intervals between flights. On June 30, 2016, the aircraft completed five separate flights to apply liquid fertilizers to fields near Novopokrovskoye.
Findings
- The pilot-in-command operated the An-2 for agricultural spraying without a second pilot, despite the flight manual specifying a minimum crew of two for such missions.
- The pilot-in-command was not trained or qualified to perform agricultural spraying tasks solo.
- The consumption of alcohol by the pilot-in-command and the passenger during flight operations was documented by witnesses.