1 fatality

Crop-Spraying Accident at Svetilnoye Results in One Fatality, Two Injuries (CCCP-09259)

Svetilnoye, UkraineLanding (descent or approach)

On May 13, 1964, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration CCCP-09259) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Svetilnoye, Ukraine during landing or approach. One person was killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Wrong approach configuration on part of the captain who adopted a too low approach speed that caused the aircraft to stall. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 3 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

On a crop-spraying flight from Svetilnoye, the aircraft came in too high for landing, failed to go around, lost speed, and crashed short of the landing T, nosing over and catching fire. The copilot died; two others were injured. Official cause: wrong approach configuration with too low speed causing stall, compounded by crew fatigue and alcohol.

Accident Details

A crop-spraying flight operating from a very small airstrip at Svetilnoye in the Borispol district of the Kiev region ended in an accident when the aircraft approached too high for landing. The crew did not execute a go-around and instead forced the aircraft down. During the forced landing, the aircraft lost speed and touched down hard approximately 9 meters before the landing T. It then nosed over and caught fire. The copilot was killed in the accident, while the other two occupants, one of whom was a mechanic, sustained injuries.

Probable Cause

The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident. The captain was responsible for a wrong approach configuration, specifically adopting a too low approach speed that caused the aircraft to stall. Additionally, at the time of the accident, the crew was fatigued due to insufficient rest and excessive consumption of alcohol the night before the crash.