What happened
On a charter flight designated GRA4571, a single-engine aircraft departed from a small airfield in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, bound for Bukhara. The flight was carrying two pilots and two passengers at the time of the incident. Approximately one minute after the departure, during the initial climb phase, the aircraft experienced a loss of engine power.
Following the power loss, the crew notified Air Traffic Control of the emergency. Although controllers provided clearance for an immediate return to the airfield, the engine failure persisted. The crew subsequently attempted to perform an emergency landing in an open field situated near the aerodrome.
During the landing sequence, the aircraft struck a small drainage ditch. The impact caused the loss of the left main landing gear and the destruction of both left wings. While the aircraft sustained damage beyond repair, all four occupants managed to exit the wreckage with only minor injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced a loss of power during the initial climb.
- Engine failure necessitated an emergency landing in an unpaved field.