Crop spraying aircraft accident near Hirnyk

1 fatality • Hirnyk, Ukraine • Flight

A single-engine aircraft crashed during a low-altitude agricultural mission in the Donetsk region, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.

What happened

During an agricultural operation involving herbicide application for the 'Gornyak' state farm, an aircraft crashed in the Starobeshevo district of the Donetsk region. The flight was performing crop spraying over corn fields at an altitude of approximately 50 meters when the incident occurred.

While executing a sharp right-hand turn, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and impacted the ground roughly 3.5 km west of Hirnyk. The impact was followed by a post-crash fire that completely destroyed the airframe. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury among the crew members.

Findings

Investigations into the crash determined that the primary factor was an error of judgment by the pilot-in-command. The pilot attempted a steep right turn while maintaining an insufficient airspeed, which led to an aerodynamic stall and the subsequent descent into the terrain.

Probable cause

The pilot executed a sharp turn at an inadequate speed, causing the aircraft to stall.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1973-05-20 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Hirnyk, Ukraine?

A single-engine aircraft crashed during a low-altitude agricultural mission in the Donetsk region, resulting in one fatality and one serious injury.

Were there any fatalities in the 1973-05-20 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1973-05-20 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-55798, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Hirnyk, Ukraine.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot executed a sharp turn at an inadequate speed, causing the aircraft to stall.

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