Fatal aircraft accident during unauthorized flight from Klimshchina

5 fatalities • Klimshchina, Russia • Flight

An aircraft crashed into a power line support during an unauthorized local flight, resulting in five fatalities and one survivor who later succumbed to injuries.

What happened

A positioning flight originally intended for agricultural spraying duties began in Smolensk, with the crew traveling toward Klimshchina to serve a local sovkhoz. Upon arrival at the destination, the pilots were notified that the scheduled mission had been cancelled. During the afternoon, the crew remained at the airport and engaged in social activities with local farmers, during which alcohol was consumed.

Later that day, the two pilots and three passengers from the local farming community departed Klimshchina for a short-duration local flight. Approximately ten minutes into the flight, while maintaining an altitude of only eight meters, the captain began a turn to the right. During this maneuver, the aircraft type struck a concrete support structure belonging to a power transmission line, causing the plane to crash and catch fire.

Of the five people on board, four fatalities occurred at the scene, while one passenger sustained serious injuries. The sole survivor later passed away from their wounds three days after the accident.

Findings

Investigations into the crash revealed that the flight was conducted without proper authorization and included three unauthorized passengers. A critical factor in the accident was the intoxication of the crew, as blood alcohol analysis showed the captain had a level of 2,62‰ and the co-pilot had a level of 0,54‰. These levels significantly impaired the operational capabilities and performance of the flight crew.

Probable cause

The accident was caused by the pilots operating the aircraft while heavily intoxicated during an unauthorized flight.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1980-07-25 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Klimshchina, Russia?

An aircraft crashed into a power line support during an unauthorized local flight, resulting in five fatalities and one survivor who later succumbed to injuries.

Were there any fatalities in the 1980-07-25 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 5 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1980-07-25 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-35308, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Klimshchina, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The accident was caused by the pilots operating the aircraft while heavily intoxicated during an unauthorized flight.

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