Accident Description
The crew, assigned to conduct a crop spraying operation for the farm 'Rossia', departed from Nekrasovskaya. During the flight at a height of five meters—deemed insufficient—the copilot spotted power lines and decided to climb to prevent a collision. The captain, however, assumed control and forced the aircraft downward to fly under the cables. The cables hit the tail section, partially shearing it off. The aircraft then pitched nose-down and impacted an open field, erupting in flames. Both pilots suffered serious injuries. The aircraft was consumed by fire.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a combination of factors. These included inadequate flight preparation by the crew, who had not identified obstacles in the spraying area; the captain's decision to operate at five meters despite a minimum altitude of twenty meters; and deficient crew coordination.