On June 24, 2010, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration UP-A0161) operated by Air Flamingo was involved in an aviation accident near Sarybulak, Kazakhstan during takeoff. 2 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Takeoff from a limited area; failure to take into account obstacles by the crew during takeoff; incorrect selection of the take-off site; high outside air temperature and tailwind component. 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 positioning flight for crop-spraying in North Kazakhstan ended in a crash after the aircraft struck a tree, stalled, and burned. Both pilots died; engineer seriously injured.
Accident Narrative
A crop-spraying positioning flight in North Kazakhstan turned tragic when the aircraft collided with a tree, stalled, and was consumed by fire. The pilot had become disoriented while flying between the villages of Taiynsha and Sorochinskiy and landed on a small field near the village of Sarybulak to establish his position. After taking off with a slight tail wind, at a height of 15 metres, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn. During the turn, the left lower wing struck a tree. The aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed, while the engineer was seriously injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed by a post-crash fire.
Official Findings
The investigation identified the following findings as probable cause: takeoff from a limited area; failure to take into account obstacles by the crew during takeoff; incorrect selection of the take-off site; high outside air temperature and tailwind component.