What happened
During a flight from Sukhumi to Sochi, the aircraft encountered hostile action. The plane was likely targeted and engaged by a German fighter. Following this engagement, the aircraft crashed into the sea, possibly in waters off the coast of Sochi. The incident resulted in the total loss of the machine, which disappeared without trace.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the interception and destruction of the aircraft by enemy forces. The specific mechanism of failure was attributed to being shot down during the en route phase of the journey.