What happened
On the morning of August 1, 2015, an Antonov AN-2, registration YR-PEG, was prepared for aerial chemical spraying operations in the Stăncuţa commune of Brăila County. The flight mission had been redirected to this local airfield due to rain in the originally intended Giurgeni area. Following standard pre-flight procedures, including fuel adjustments and engine checks, the aircraft was loaded with necessary chemical substances.
The flight crew, consisting of the pilot and an aeronautical technician seated in the right-hand seat, attempted a takeoff heading south-north. The takeoff roll lasted approximately 100 meters under conditions of increasing gusty winds from the east. During the initial climb, at an altitude of roughly 15 to 20 meters, the aircraft began to bank heavily to the left and lost altitude.
As the aircraft descended toward parked planes at the northern end of the field, the technician attempted to intervene by moving the control yoke to the right. However, the technician reported that the controls were in a blocked state and unresponsive. The aircraft continued its descent, striking the ground with the propeller and the left wingtip. The impact caused the aircraft to pivot sharply to the left and resulted in a heavy ground strike that stopped the engine. A fire broke out upon impact but was extinguished by bystanders. The pilot was ejected from the cockpit during the wreckage's destruction, sustaining one fatality following multiple traumatic injuries. The passenger survived the crash but required extensive hospitalization for his injuries. The aircraft was a total loss.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a significant left bank and descent during the initial climb phase.
- The control yoke was in a blocked state, preventing the passenger from correcting the aircraft's flight path.
- Increasing gusty winds from the east contributed to the unstable takeoff conditions.