What happened
The incident occurred while the aircraft was performing a communication mission. During this operation, the plane came under attack from enemy forces. A German fighter engaged the target, leading to the destruction of the aircraft. The wreckage came down in the vicinity of Rzhev. As there were no other passengers on board, the sole occupant, the pilot, was killed in the crash.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the hostile action taken by opposing military aviation. The aircraft was not lost due to mechanical failure or pilot error but was specifically targeted and destroyed during combat operations.