What happened
On May 17, 2023, a crew consisting of two pilots was tasked with repositioning a PA28-140-22922, registration RA-2779G, from Cheboksary to the Troitsko-Pechorsk settlement in the Komi Republic. The mission was intended to support forest fire prevention, detection, and suppression efforts. The flight plan, submitted on May 16, 2023, authorized operations within Class C and G airspace along the route from Cheboksary to Troitsko-Pechorsk.
Prior to departure, the aircraft was prepared and fueled with 189 liters of AVGAS100LL. Although the official flight plan did not include any intermediate stops, the pilot in command decided to land at the Ust-Kulom settlement. This landing was not part of the original flight assignment, nor was it included in the training itinerary for the second pilot, who was a newly re-hired crew member undergoing training.
The investigation
The investigation reviewed the flight plan submitted via the SPPI system and the pilot's statements regarding the mission objectives. It was noted that while the primary goal was the repositioning of the aircraft to a temporary operational base, the pilot utilized the flight to conduct training. The investigation also examined the discrepancy between the approved flight plan and the actual flight path taken, specifically the unauthorized stop at Ust-Kulom.