What happened
Following departure from Ambavalao Airport, the crew was conducting a reconnaissance mission. The flight path required the aircraft to circle vertically toward the city to gain sufficient altitude for clearing the mountainous terrain. After successfully passing the initial mountain range, the twin-engine aircraft struck a rocky ridge and crashed.
The accident resulted in significant casualties among the occupants. Six individuals were killed in the impact, while one crew member survived with serious injuries. The deceased included members of the flight crew and passengers on board at the time of the incident.