What happened
During a nighttime flight, the crew was performing a visual approach to Runway 10 from a right downwind position. While on final approach, the aircraft descended through a layer of low clouds (scud). During this phase, the pilot contacted ground control while still significantly short of the runway threshold.
In an attempt to recover, the pilot increased power to maximum and pitched the nose upward. However, during the maneuver, the aircraft struck the side of a hill located below the runway, causing one main landing gear to separate from the airframe. Following this impact, the plane rolled into an inverted position and struck the runway threshold upside down. The aircraft continued to slide across the grass area onto a nearby taxiway, where a significant external fire broke out.
Findings
- The accident resulted in three fatalities and four injuries among the passengers and crew.
- The sequence of events was initiated by the aircraft striking terrain below the runway elevation during an attempt to climb.