Incident Overview
On a flight from Chernivtsi, Ukraine, to Odessa, a single-engine airplane deviated from its prescribed flight path by 15 kilometers to the south. The deviation occurred in conditions of poor visibility and rain. The aircraft entered an area near Glinoye in the Grigoriopol district of Moldova, where two radio masts were located. Only one of these masts was indicated on the navigational charts, and its coordinates were incorrectly plotted.
Collision and Crash
The pilot successfully avoided the first mast, which stood 350 meters tall. However, the aircraft struck the second mast, which was 260 meters high. The collision happened at an altitude of 200 meters. The airplane then caught fire and crashed 280 meters further on in a field belonging to the state farm Karmanovo.
Occupants and Fatalities
All three crew members and the sole passenger aboard the airplane were killed in the accident.
Probable Cause
According to official findings, the probable cause of the accident was that the weather information transmitted to the crew did not reflect the actual conditions; the pilot encountered low ceiling and low visibility due to rainfall. Additionally, it was established that the antenna struck by the airplane was not properly marked, and its coordinates were inaccurate—the real position of the mast was 35 kilometers east of where it was charted.