On July 23, 2017, an L-42 amphibious aircraft, registration RA-0786G, was involved in an accident in the area of Lake Medvezhye, Irkutsk region. The pilot-in-command had planned the flight for aerial observation of the Evenk Autonomous Okrug within Class G airspace. The aircraft had previously flown from Kuznetsov airport to Medvezhye Lake on July 22, 2017, carrying two passengers.
Prior to the accident flight on July 23, the pilot performed pre-flight preparations in accordance with the operational and maintenance manuals. While the pilot did not refuel the aircraft for this specific leg, the pilot-in-command elected to proceed with the takeoff after evaluating the weather conditions, deciding to depart in a southerly direction. No notification had been submitted to air traffic control for the intended flight path.
During the takeoff run, the left wing float of the RA-0786G struck a submerged log. This collision caused structural damage to the aircraft and led to its partial submersion in the water. There were no injuries or fatalities reported in connection with the event.