Mi-2 helicopter crashes, pilot dead

A Mi-2 helicopter crashed in the Srednyaya Akhtuba district of the Volgograd region, killing the pilot.

According to a source in the Chief Civil Defence and Emergencies Department of the Volgograd region, the helicopter crashed at 7:40 Moscow time on Friday, while trying to land after a practice flight. Preliminary reports blamed the crash on violation of pilotage rules /witnesses said the helicopter's tail had brushed against the ground while the pilot was trying to land the machine/.

The helicopter, piloted by Vladimir Donskov, was accomplishing a practice flight ahead of a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Volgograd Flying Club, which was to take place on August 16.