Accident Details
While conducting a crop spraying operation for the Zavyety Lenina collective farm in the Mikhailovka district of the Volgograd region, the pilot experienced engine difficulties. The aircraft, flying at low altitude, banked sharply to the right at a 45-degree angle and subsequently crashed in a field located 6 kilometers south of the settlement of Sukhov 2-I. All three individuals on board—the pilot and two local farmers—lost their lives in the accident.
Investigation Findings
Post-accident investigation revealed that the pilot was under the influence of alcohol, with a blood alcohol concentration of 2.9‰. The exact cause of the engine failure could not be definitively determined. However, investigators believe that the failure may have resulted from the right set of fuel tanks running dry. The aircraft's limited altitude at the time of the failure prevented any recovery from the ensuing bank angle.
Probable Cause
The official investigation concluded that the precise reason for the engine failure remained uncertain. Nevertheless, it was theorized that the right group of tanks had been depleted of fuel. Additionally, the pilot's elevated blood alcohol level was noted as a contributing factor in the incident.