What happened
The flight originated at Prestwick at 0830 local time for an observation exercise. During the en-route phase, the crew encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions characterized by thick mist and heavy snowfall. These factors significantly reduced visibility. In response to the low-visibility environment, the pilot departed from the prescribed flight path. The aircraft subsequently impacted the slope of a mountain situated south of Glenariff while at an altitude of 1,000 feet. All four individuals on board were killed in the accident.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident resulted from controlled flight into terrain. The primary contributing factor was the deviation from the planned route under conditions of severely limited visibility.