What happened
The incident occurred during the initial climb phase immediately following departure. While ascending, the aircraft executed a right bank before stalling and descending rapidly into the ground. The impact triggered a massive explosion at the crash site. Weather conditions were reported as good at the time of the accident.
Prior to the flight, the copilot noted that the magneto check for the right engine was unsatisfactory. However, the captain assessed the check as acceptable and proceeded with the takeoff procedure. The aircraft was carrying a full complement of 46 soldiers, each equipped with their complete personal packages and ammunition, in addition to the three crew members.
Findings
Investigation into the event indicated that the aircraft failed to gain sufficient altitude after rotation. A primary contributing factor was that the total weight of the aircraft was significantly above the admissible Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW). This excess weight compromised the climb performance, leading to the stall and subsequent crash. The accident resulted in 45 fatalities and five serious injuries.