On July 19, 2020, an An-2 aircraft, registration RA-71276, operated by OOO AK "Phoenix," was involved in a fatal accident in the Republic of Buryatia, Russia. The aircraft was part of a mission contracted by the Zabaykalskaya Base of Aviation Forest Protection to perform aerial chemical treatments to control harmful organisms using biological pesticides.
Prior to the accident, the crew had relocated to the village of Kyren. On the morning of the incident, the crew and engineering staff arrived at the parking area to prepare the aircraft and install ultramicro-volume sprayers. To assist other crew commanders with the upcoming work, a decision was made to conduct a familiarization flight through the mountainous terrain.
The aircraft struck a mountain ridge at an altitude of 2,780 meters above sea level. The impact occurred perpendicular to the direction of the ridge, which had a minimum height of 2,960 meters. The accident resulted in six fatalities, including the crew and passengers.
Investigation details indicate the flight was occurring in conditions of limited visibility and cloud cover that obscured the mountain peaks. The aircraft was also subjected to downward air currents on the leeward side of the mountain slope during the flight.