What happened
On May 17, 2017, a flight was scheduled to perform agricultural work in the vicinity of Zemetchino, Penza Oblast, under a contract with Soyuz Agro LLC. The pilot and an aircraft technician arrived at the location on May 16, 2017. On the morning of the accident, the pilot intended to conduct a flight to inspect fields designated for treatment.
At approximately 06:00, the pilot arrived at the site. No pre-flight medical examination was conducted, as the pilot was authorized to approve the crew's fitness in the absence of a medical professional at the landing site. The pilot did not submit a request for airspace use to the Air Traffic Management authorities, and no meteorological information was requested from the Penza airport. Following routine maintenance by the technician and a successful engine test, the pilot took off at 06:57.
Approximately 10 minutes into the flight, while flying at an altitude of about 12 meters, the nose gear of the Bekas X-32 struck an overhead power line. This impact caused the aircraft to strike the ground, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. There was 1 fatality involving the pilot, and no fire occurred following the impact.
The investigation
The investigation reviewed the operational preparations and flight documentation. It was noted that the aircraft, registration RA-0395A, was not included in the daily flight plan of the Penza Air Traffic Management Center. The investigation also confirmed that the pilot had been at rest for at least 12 hours prior to the flight.