What happened
The incident occurred on October 20, 1945, involving an aircraft that had been grounded earlier in September due to persistent issues with its right engine. After being ferried to the Osoaviakhim Airfield in Krasnoyarsk for repairs, the plane was used for unauthorized training flights between October 17 and 20. On the day of the accident, the aircraft departed for an airfield on Molokov Island in the Yenisei River, as local repair facilities were limited.
Approximately three to four minutes into the flight, the right engine ignited. Smoke filled the cabin, prompting the pilot to attempt a return to Osoaviakhim Airfield. However, the aircraft lost altitude during the final approach, struck a fence, and crash-landed. The pilot was killed, while the flight mechanic and an unauthorized passenger sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the accident resulted from multiple operational and crew-related failures. The pilot had conducted training flights in the days prior despite knowing the right engine was malfunctioning. Additionally, the decision to ferry the aircraft with a mechanic and a passenger was made without proper authorization. When the engine failed during the flight, the pilot became confused and executed inappropriate actions. Contributing factors included the operator’s use of the aircraft type without adequate technical documentation, which hindered maintenance, and insufficient training for the pilot regarding the specific performance characteristics of the airframe, particularly in emergency scenarios involving engine failure.