What happened
During a connection flight, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The pilot failed to recognize that the aircraft was flying at an unsafe altitude relative to the terrain. As a result, the airframe struck telephone wires, which induced an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently crashed onto a hillside and caught fire immediately upon impact.
All four members of the crew from the 608th Squadron sustained serious injuries in the accident. While three survivors were treated for their wounds, the captain succumbed to his injuries three days after the crash. The flight was operated by military personnel assigned to the 608th Squadron.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident resulted from poor judgment on part of the crew. This error in decision-making led to the aircraft being flown too low in poor visibility, directly causing the collision with ground obstacles and the subsequent crash.