Incident Overview
In the evening, an intoxicated crew departed Yartsevo on an unauthorized flight to Novy Gorodok. Minutes after takeoff, while cruising by night, the single-engine aircraft collided with a 14-meter-high lone tree in a forest clearing located approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Yartsevo. Following the collision, the aircraft lost height and crashed 121 meters further, bursting into flames. Both pilots were killed.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a collision with trees while the intoxicated crew was flying at an insufficient altitude by night.