Incident Details
An aircraft on approach to Addis Ababa-Haile Selassie I Airport was operating under night conditions with marginal weather. The flight crew was conducting a final approach to runway 32.
Sequence of Events
At an altitude of 150 feet, the pilot-in-command established visual contact with the runway. However, the aircraft was positioned 250 feet to the right of the extended centerline. The captain decided to execute a left turn to align with the runway. During this maneuver, the aircraft banked left, lost height, and struck the ground. The aircraft then went out of control, crashed adjacent to the runway, and came to rest.
Injuries and Damage
All 14 occupants sustained injuries, and the aircraft was destroyed in the accident.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a wrong approach configuration by the flying crew, who continued the approach below minima weather conditions and passed the minimum descent altitude without any visual contact with the ground or runway. Under such conditions, the captain should have initiated a go-around procedure.