What happened
During operations in the vicinity of Stalingrad, the aircraft came under attack from enemy forces. A German Me.109 fighter engaged the target, successfully shooting it down. The impact of the engagement caused the airplane to crash in the area. The incident resulted in significant casualties among the flight deck personnel. One member of the crew lost their life in the event, while a second individual sustained injuries.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the primary cause of the accident was hostile action. Specifically, the aircraft was destroyed after being targeted and hit by a German fighter plane during combat operations.