Accident Details
A single-engine aircraft, engaged in a cargo flight from Krasnodar to Sterlitamak with intermediate stops in Volgograd and Uralsk, crashed shortly after liftoff. The aircraft carried two pilots, two passengers (beekeepers), and a load of boxes containing thousands of bees. Immediately after liftoff, at a height of approximately 1.5 meters, the aircraft's speed dropped and the tail stalled, striking the runway surface. The aircraft then flew or rolled out of control for several hundred meters before crashing 420 meters past the runway end.
Injuries and Damage
All four occupants sustained injuries. A passenger died from his injuries a few hours after the accident. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the crew failed to prepare the flight according to procedures and that the boxes were not properly weighed. Due to a misevaluation of the box weight, the crew allowed an excessive number of boxes to be stored in the cargo compartment. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 6,081 kilograms, which is 831 kilograms above the maximum allowable takeoff weight. Additionally, the center of gravity (CofG) was 40.8% over the aft limit. In such conditions, the aircraft could not be flown safely.