Introduction
A single-engine aircraft operating a humanitarian flight for the World Food Programme crashed into Mount Margherita in the Rwenzori mountain range of western Uganda. The accident resulted in the deaths of all three occupants.
Flight Details
The aircraft departed Goma with one passenger and two pilots, carrying a load of 300 kilograms of various goods. The flight was destined for Bunia. En route, the crew decided to navigate via a direct GPS route rather than following the flight plan route.
Accident
While cruising at an altitude of 12,500 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of Mount Margherita, which has an elevation of 5,109 meters. The wreckage was discovered two days after the accident.
Investigation Findings
Official findings determined that the accident was a controlled flight into terrain. The probable cause was attributed to the crew's failure to follow the prescribed route and their decision to execute a direct route over the mountains at an unsafe altitude in poor visibility due to weather.