Date & Time:
Jul 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1218
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
16534
YOM:
1940
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
1
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was engaged in special missions consisting of transferring wounded soldiers from Semenov to Andreapol. While cruising south from Andreapol at night, he encountered poor weather conditions. Rather than returning to his departure point, he decided to continue when he encountered strong turbulence. In poor visibility, he lost control of the airplane that crashed in a forest, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pilot to return to base when weather conditions worsened and his decision to continue in poor visibility until he lost control of the airplane after he suffered a spatial disorientation.
