What happened
During an aerial spraying mission conducted for the 'Sovietskaya' collective farm, an aircraft was performing routine rotations over agricultural fields. Following a midday break, the crew permitted an unauthorized passenger to board the aircraft. The flight proceeded through 11 completed cycles of spraying operations.
While operating at an altitude of approximately 10 meters, the captain handed control of the aircraft to the copilot. During this phase of flight, the aircraft entered a right-hand turn and subsequently developed a 15-degree right bank. The aircraft then struck a field at a speed of 165 km/h.
The accident resulted in two fatalities, involving the copilot and the passenger, while the captain sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified two primary contributing factors. First, the captain transferred flight controls to the copilot, which constituted a violation of established operating procedures. Second, the crew permitted an unauthorized individual to board the aircraft for the mission.