Accident Details
On an unspecified date, an Antonov An-2 aircraft, registration RA-35171, was participating in a demonstration flight at Chernoye Aerodrome. The flight was part of an airshow celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Antonov AN-2. The pilot-in-command executed a steep turn to the left intended to join the grassy runway. During the maneuver, the airplane descended to an extremely low altitude, and its left wing impacted the ground. The aircraft continued for approximately 180 meters before crashing and bursting into flames.
Damage and Occupants
The aircraft was totally destroyed in the accident. Both occupants, the pilot-in-command and one other person, were killed.
Official Findings
According to the investigation, the probable cause of the crash was the failure of the pilot-in-command to pilot the An-2 aircraft at high flight speeds. Specifically, at speeds of 270-300 km/h, there was an increase in the time required for the aircraft to leave the bank due to a decrease in the angles of aileron deflection. This was caused by pulling of the cable line resulting from a significant increase in forces in the transverse control channel. Consequently, the pilot could not arrest the descent while maneuvering with large angles of bank at an extremely low flight altitude.
Contributing factors included piloting the aircraft at modes beyond the limits set by the Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) of the An-2, and maneuvering at an altitude less than that established for performing a demonstration flight over the aerodrome.