What happened
During the eighth mission of the day, an agricultural aircraft was engaged in chemical application to protect a sunflower crop from pests. Shortly after departing from the airfield, the aircraft was climbing at an altitude of approximately 20 to 30 metres when the engine experienced a loss of power. This power loss caused the aircraft to begin descending rapidly.
As the plane lost altitude, the crew was unable to locate a suitable area of terrain to perform an emergency landing. Consequently, the aircraft struck trees within a wooded region, which led to a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the plane. Despite the intensity of the flames, both crew members managed to exit the wreckage and were not injured during the accident.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a sudden loss of engine power during the initial climb phase.
- The lack of available landing sites prevented a controlled descent away from obstacles.