What happened
Following the completion of 27 scheduled flights for the Tupishinsky sovkhoz, the crew initiated an unauthorized local recreational flight. The aircraft was carrying five passengers, all children between the ages of 9 and 16, with three seated in the cabin and two positioned in the cockpit area.
Shortly after departing, the aircraft maintained a low altitude of approximately 40 meters. During this phase of flight, the crew became distracted by the passengers. As the pilot noticed trees directly ahead, an attempt was made to climb by applying full power; however, the aircraft struck trees and crashed into a wooded region located roughly 1.5 km from the village of Chal. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The accident resulted in two fatalities among the children and left five others injured.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the crew operated the flight without obtaining necessary prior permission and in violation of established procedures by transporting children for a pleasure flight. Furthermore, the presence of the passengers caused a significant distraction, leading the pilots to lose situational awareness and fail to detect or avoid the nearby obstructions.