What happened
A local solo training flight departed Irkutsk aboard a light trainer aircraft. At the same time, another similar airplane registered CCCP-T118 was conducting its own local training sortie. Both pilots had been assigned to specific training zones for their exercises.
During the operation, the pilot of CCCP-T118 altered his heading and left the designated area. This deviation led to a mid-air collision between the two aircraft. Following the impact, both planes entered an uncontrolled dive and crashed in the vicinity of the airport. Both pilots were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation identified a breakdown in procedural adherence as the primary factor. The pilot of CCCP-T118 failed to maintain the assigned course and flew out of the designated sector, directly violating instructions and published procedures. This lack of discipline created the conflict that resulted in the fatal collision.