What happened
On June 27, 2010, an Antonov An-2, registration RA-62631, was conducting a specialized forest fire patrol mission under the direction of the Vladimir Regional Base for Forest Protection. The flight, designated as special flight No. SHR 9556, followed a circular route through several locations, including Vyksa, N. Dmitrievka, Voznesenskoye, Kulebaki, Mukhtolovo, Sosnovskoye, and Navashino, before returning to Vyksa.
The crew, which included the captain, a co-pilot, and an aerial observer, arrived at the departure site at 12:00 local time. Prior to departure, the aircraft was refueled with 230 kg of Ai-95 gasoline. Pre-flight inspections and engine tests using the PM-1 magneto switch were completed without any identified issues. The aircraft's takeoff mass was calculated at 4,149 kg with a center of gravity of 21.4% MAC.
The aircraft departed from the Vyksa airfield at 10:00 local time. The initial climb and the segment of the flight toward N. Dmitrievka were completed without incident. During the patrol, the aircraft maintained an altitude of 350 meters and an indicated airspeed of 160 km/h. The crew maintained contact with the dispatcher as recently as 11:40.