What happened
While performing agricultural spraying operations for the Dobrinsky farm in the Lipetsk region, the crew of an aircraft encountered technical difficulties. During the mission, the captain identified malfunctions regarding the elevator control tabs. In response to these control issues, the decision was made to return to the base to address the mechanical problems.
During the period when the captain and the mechanic were focused on the aircraft's maintenance, the copilot attempted an unauthorized departure. Shortly after this takeoff, the aircraft collided with a 12-meter-high concrete electric pole. The impact caused the plane to crash into a nearby field. The pilot survived the incident without any injuries, though the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
- The incident was precipitated by the decision to attempt takeoff while the crew was distracted by ongoing maintenance of the elevator controls.