What happened
During a scheduled training exercise, a single-engine airplane departed from Balad Air Force Base with three crew members on board. While the aircraft was operating at a low altitude, it was struck by 57 mm anti-aircraft fire. Following the impact, the aircraft lost stability and entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane crashed into the ground in the Hawijah region, located approximately 160 km north of its departure point.
The impact of the crash, followed by a post-crash fire, resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. There were three fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations indicate that the primary cause of the crash was the impact of 57 mm anti-aircraft weaponry while the aircraft was in flight.