Overview
A crop spraying airplane operating on behalf of the kolkhoz of 'Bolshevik' in Tsimlyansky was scheduled for multiple agricultural flights on the day of the accident. However, both pilots failed to complete the mission for unknown reasons. Late in the afternoon, the captain decided to take off with two friends and conducted several tours in the region of Karnaukhovskiy.
Accident Sequence
After several takeoffs and landings, while flying at a very low altitude, the airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in an open field located 7 kilometers north of Karnaukhovskiy. The aircraft was totally destroyed by fire, and all three occupants—the captain and his two passengers—were killed.
Investigation Findings
Officials determined that the captain initiated a private flight with two passengers who were not authorized to fly. The exact cause of the loss of control could not be determined, but the possibility that one of the passengers was at the controls at the time of the accident was not ruled out. Additionally, toxicological analysis revealed that the captain was intoxicated, which was considered a contributing factor in the accident.