What happened
During an aerial spraying operation in the Pavlodar region, a single-engine aircraft experienced a loss of control that resulted in a crash into a field. The flight was being conducted as a local mission by the crew. Following the initial takeoff, the captain handed over flight controls to the co-pilot and subsequently fell asleep during the operation. The co-pilot continued the spraying mission alone until the task was finished, at which point control was returned to the commander.
During the flight, the aircraft lost altitude and crashed. Both occupants of the single-engine airplane sustained injuries. Following the impact, the crew engaged in a criminal conspiracy by setting fire to the wreckage. This action was an attempt to misrepresent the nature of the accident as being caused by an engine failure.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crash was not the result of mechanical malfunction, but rather a deliberate attempt by the crew to conceal pilot error through arson. The destruction of the aircraft was intended to provide a false explanation for the loss of control and subsequent impact.