No fatalities

Crop Spraying Positioning Flight Ends in Cartwheel After Wing Strike During Landing Attempt (CCCP-70080)

Tatarsk, RussiaLanding (descent or approach)

On April 22, 1989, a PZL-Mielec AN-2 (registration CCCP-70080) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Tatarsk, Russia during landing or approach. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot-in-command who failed to maintain a sufficient speed during the last segment. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-11Data APIEditorial standards

A crop-spraying positioning flight to the Tatarski state farm airstrip ended with a cartwheel and substantial damage after the pilot attempted a pancake landing, causing the left wing to stall and strike the ground. All three crew members escaped uninjured.

Incident Overview

A positioning flight for crop-spraying operations was en route to the airstrip of the sovkhoz (state farm) "Tatarski." On approach, the pilot attempted a pancake landing, assuming the ground to be drenched. During the last segment, the aircraft lost speed on short final, resulting in the left wing stalling and striking the ground. The aircraft subsequently cartwheeled and was damaged beyond repair.

Crew and Damage

All three crew members on board escaped uninjured. The aircraft sustained damage beyond repair due to the cartwheel and ground impact.

Probable Cause

The official investigation identified the probable cause as a wrong approach configuration on the part of the pilot-in-command, who failed to maintain a sufficient speed during the last segment of the landing.