Accident Details
A single-engine aircraft conducting a crop-spraying operation for the kolkhoz im. Kalinina in the Buka district of the Tashkent region, Uzbekistan, struck a high-voltage power line while flying at an altitude of 10 meters. The collision occurred between the villages of Dzharkishlak and Kashka, near Almalyk. After impact, the airplane became uncontrollable, crashed in a cotton field 94 meters beyond the power line, and nosed over. The captain sustained fatal injuries at the scene, while the copilot died during transfer to a medical facility.
Operational Context
The accident took place during a spraying run over a field that, according to the investigation, was not designated for spraying. The crew was engaged in agricultural operations in the area.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be: Lack of discipline on part of the crew who failed to realize he was flying at an insufficient altitude and failed to locate the high-voltage power line.