Flight Details
A Royal Air Maroc aircraft was completing a charter flight from Paris-Le Bourget to Agadir, Morocco, carrying 181 Moroccan workers and their family members returning for holidays. The flight was uneventful until the descent phase.
Accident Sequence
The crew contacted Air Traffic Control and was cleared to start the descent. At an altitude of 2,400 feet, the right wing struck a rocky peak. On impact, the aircraft's number 4 engine was torn off. The crew increased engine power, and the airplane flew for approximately 400 meters before it disintegrated in a small valley. The wreckage was located several hours later about 40 kilometers north of Agadir-Inezgane Airport. None of the 188 occupants survived the crash.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause: the aircraft was descending at a too low altitude and was approaching Agadir-Inezgane Airport on a wrong track, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. Lack of visibility due to the night and local patches of fog, as well as lack of visual references on the ground, were considered contributing factors.