What happened
On a morning mission involving agricultural spraying, a single-engine airplane was operating for the "40 let Turkmenskoi SSR" state farm in the Tashauz region. While navigating the airspace near the villages of Kommunlyizm and Udarnik, located northwest of Tashauz, the aircraft struck a telephone pole at an altitude of approximately 4 meters. The impact occurred while the crew was flying directly into the glare of the low morning sun.
Following the collision with the utility pole, the aircraft traveled an additional 120 meters before crashing. The wreckage landed in an inverted position and subsequently caught fire, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury. The co-pilot perished in the crash, while the captain sustained significant injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the crew was unable to identify and maneuver around the telegraph pole due to the visual impairment caused by flying against the sun.