What happened
Following the completion of four successful skydiving missions, an An-2 departed from Yessentuki Airfield. During the initial climb, reaching an altitude of approximately 50 meters, the aircraft's engine suffered a loss of power, accompanied by visible black smoke exiting the exhaust.
In response to the engine malfunction, the pilot attempted to execute a left-hand turn to return to the airfield. During this maneuver, the aircraft struck a lighting mast situated on a bridge spanning the A-1s7 highway at the Suvorovskoye shosse road. After the impact, the plane traveled an additional 100 to 150 meters before descending into a group of trees located roughly one kilometer west of the airfield.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced engine power loss during the climb phase.
- The low altitude at the time of the engine failure prevented a successful return to the runway.
- All nine fatalities were not present; rather, all 9 occupants were successfully rescued from the wreckage.
- The aircraft sustained damage that rendered it beyond repair.