Crop spraying aircraft crash near Popovka

2 fatalities • Popovka, Russia • Flight

An unauthorized flight involving several unauthorized passengers resulted in a fatal crash near Popovka during low-altitude maneuvers.

What happened

While stationed in the Popovka region for scheduled agricultural spraying tasks for the Kotova sovkhoz, the flight crew experienced a period of downtime due to a shortage of necessary chemical supplies. During this interval, the crew members consumed alcohol throughout the day.

In the afternoon, the pilot decided to conduct an unauthorized local flight. The aircraft departed with three individuals from the sovkhoz who were not permitted to be on board. While performing dangerous maneuvers at a low altitude, the pilot attempted a steep left-hand turn. During this maneuver, the lower left wing made contact with the ground. This impact caused the aircraft to lose control and crash into a field approximately 87 meters away, where it caught fire.

The accident resulted in two fatalities and three injuries among the occupants of the aircraft.

Probable cause

The crew operated an unauthorized flight with illegal passengers while under the influence of alcohol, which impaired their ability to safely navigate low-altitude maneuvers.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1976-08-03 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident near Popovka, Russia?

An unauthorized flight involving several unauthorized passengers resulted in a fatal crash near Popovka during low-altitude maneuvers.

Were there any fatalities in the 1976-08-03 PZL-Mielec AN-2 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 2 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1976-08-03 involved a PZL-Mielec AN-2, registration CCCP-70190, operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines, at Popovka, Russia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The crew operated an unauthorized flight with illegal passengers while under the influence of alcohol, which impaired their ability to safely navigate low-altitude maneuvers.

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