On April 25, 2001, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration RA-17832) operated by Adygeya-Avia was involved in an aviation accident near Nekrasovskaya, Russia in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident was the consequence of the combination of the following factors: - Poor flight preparation on part of the crew who failed to locate various obstacles situated in and around the spraying area, - The captain took the decision to complete the… This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A crew flying at insufficient height encountered power cables; the captain overrode the copilot's avoidance maneuver, causing a tail strike and crash. Both pilots were seriously injured, and the aircraft was destroyed.
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.