What happened
During a mission to spray forests, an aircraft departed from Kyren Airport. Approximately 40 minutes after takeoff, while maintaining a speed of 140 km/h, the crew encountered significant downdrafts that caused the plane to lose altitude. In an effort to avoid the mountainous terrain, the crew initiated a right-hand turn; however, the descent continued despite this maneuver.
As the aircraft's speed dropped to 85 km/h, the captain attempted to perform an emergency landing. During this process, the plane struck trees and crashed within a forested region situated 16 km southeast of Dabady. The impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair. Both pilots sustained injuries and were transported to Irkutsk for medical treatment the following day.
Findings
- The primary factor in the loss of altitude was the encounter with downdrafts during the flight.