What happened
During the initial climb phase following takeoff, the aircraft encountered a flock of birds, resulting in a mid-air collision. This impact caused the failure of both the third and fourth engines. In response to the loss of power, the crew initiated an emergency descent to locate a suitable landing site.
The crew attempted to perform an emergency landing in an open field. However, the aircraft struck the ground in the field and subsequently caught fire. The incident resulted in six total injuries, involving all five people on board the aircraft as well as a young boy who was present in the nearby field.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failures was a collision with a flock of birds during the climb phase.