What happened
On August 12, 2016, the pilot and his son were performing technical maintenance on an Il-103S aircraft. The maintenance work involved adjusting the engine, which required multiple engine starts and ground tests. According to witnesses, after completing several stationary tests, the pilot decided to test the engine at higher power settings by performing high-speed taxi runs along the runway. The pilot informed those present that he intended to run the aircraft along the runway without performing a takeoff.
After completing approximately four taxi runs, the pilot attempted a fifth pass. During this fifth run, the aircraft actually lifted off the runway. Witnesses reported seeing and hearing irregularities in the engine, specifically loud bangs and black smoke, during the climb. Following this, the aircraft entered a steep dive with a left bank of approximately 80 degrees and a pitch of 45 degrees, ultimately impacting the ground. There was no post-crash fire, but the pilot was killed.
The investigation
Witness accounts indicated that the pilot had previously communicated his intention to remain on the ground during the testing process. However, the investigation of the sequence of events confirmed that the aircraft transitioned from a high-speed taxi into an actual takeoff during the fifth attempt.