What happened
During a scheduled local testing mission conducted for GKAP Tupolev OKB (Tupolev Industries), an aircraft departed from Moscow-Chkalovsky Airport. While operating at a relatively low altitude in the area surrounding the airfield, the plane experienced a sudden loss of control. The aircraft entered a steep dive and struck the ground, triggering a massive explosion upon impact.
There were eight fatalities among the crew members on board, with no survivors reported from the flight.
Findings
Investigations into the accident indicated that the pilot-in-command applied the rudder at a 25° angle without first decreasing the aircraft's airspeed. This maneuver caused the airplane to enter an uncontrolled steep turn, leading directly to the subsequent crash.