What happened
The aircraft departed Kholmskaya on a scheduled supply mission destined for Gelendzhik. The cargo manifest indicated that the plane was transporting ammunition at the time of departure. Approximately two to three minutes after leaving the ground, the airframe came under attack from a German fighter. The defensive action resulted in the destruction of the aircraft, which subsequently crashed into a ravine. The pilot survived the impact but sustained injuries.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the loss of the aircraft was directly attributable to hostile fire. The specific causal factor identified was the interception and subsequent shooting down by a German fighter during the initial climb phase.