Incident Overview
A single-engine aircraft departed Balad Air Force Base on an exercise with three crew members on board. During the flight, while flying at low altitude, the aircraft was struck by 57 mm antiaircraft gunfire.
Sequence of Events
The aircraft lost control following the gunfire impact and dove into the ground, crashing in Hawijah, approximately 160 kilometers north of Balad AFB. The crash resulted in the complete destruction of the aircraft due to impact forces and a subsequent post-crash fire.
Aftermath
All three crew members aboard the aircraft were killed in the accident.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the aircraft was shot down by antiaircraft gunfire.