What happened
During a local test flight departing from Shakhty Airport in the Rostov oblast, the pilot experienced an issue with the engine shortly after takeoff. In response to the mechanical failure, the pilot attempted an emergency landing in an open field situated approximately 500 metres from the airport perimeter.
Upon contacting the ground, the aircraft suffered a structural failure, losing its wings, tail section, and undercarriage before eventually coming to a stop in a patch of bushes. While the pilot escaped the wreckage without any injuries, he fled the site of the accident. Law enforcement officials located and arrested the individual a few hours later.
Findings
Investigations by Russian authorities revealed that the person operating the aircraft was a technician employed at a plant located within Shakhty Airport. The individual had owned the aircraft for seven months but was operating the flight without a valid pilot license.