1 fatality

Aircraft Shot Down Over Nesvetay

Nesvetay, RussiaFlight

On July 16, 1942, a Polikarpov Po-2 operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Nesvetay, Russia in flight. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Source recordUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

A single-engine aircraft was intercepted and destroyed by a German fighter while operating over Nesvetay, resulting in the death of the sole occupant.

What happened

The incident involved an aircraft that was engaged by enemy forces during its operation. The plane came under fire from a German fighter while flying over the area of Nesvetay. Following the impact from the attack, the airframe lost control and crashed into the ground. Upon impact, the wreckage immediately caught fire, leading to a total loss of the aircraft.

The pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident. Due to the severity of the crash and the subsequent fire, the pilot was killed. There were no other survivors or injuries reported as there were no passengers present.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter.