Accident Overview
A single-engine An-2 aircraft, registration RA-84553, was engaged in a crop spraying mission for Mikhail Farm in the Tatsinsky District of Rostov Region. The aircraft carried 400 kg of fuel and 1,200 liters of pesticides, with a pilot and a 13-year-old boy, the farmer's son, on board.
Sequence of Events
Minutes after takeoff, while approaching the treatment area at a height of approximately 20-25 meters and a speed of 130 km/h, the engine failed. The aircraft lost altitude, struck power cables, and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found 2 km from the Mikhail farmhouse.
Injuries and Damage
The pilot escaped unhurt; the boy sustained injuries. The aircraft was totally destroyed by the post-impact fire.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause states: The accident resulted from performing a flight in a known defective aircraft, leading to engine failure and the need for an in-flight forced landing. During the forced landing, the aircraft collided with power lines, followed by a rough landing that caused structural failure and fire. The investigation could not determine the specific cause of the engine failure due to the failure to ensure the safety of the aircraft after the accident and the absence of operational and technical documentation. The pilot's decision to reject takeoff after detecting a loss of engine power on takeoff could have prevented the accident. Additionally, the aircraft did not have a valid Certificate of Airworthiness, and the time between overhauls had been exceeded on 10 April 2015.