What happened
A flight mission intended for surveying forest fires ended in an accident following the departure of a single engine airplane from Nizhneudinsk Airport. The aircraft was operated with a crew consisting of two pilots and two observers.
During the initial climb, reaching an altitude between 150 and 170 meters, the aircraft experienced significant engine vibrations. In response to the mechanical instability, the captain initiated an emergency descent to perform a landing. The aircraft subsequently crash landed in a waterlogged field situated approximately 4.9 km from the departure airfield. Upon impact, the plane overturned and came to rest upside down. Despite the impact, all four occupants managed to exit the wreckage with zero injuries reported. The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the incident identified that the primary cause was a total engine failure occurring during the climb phase. While the specific reason for the mechanical breakdown could not be established, investigators noted that the saturated, marshy condition of the landing site acted as a contributing factor by preventing a controlled touchdown.