Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, a twin-engine aircraft departed Hamada al Hamra Airport at 0705 LT bound for Tripoli. The aircraft carried two pilots and 12 employees of the Arabian Gulf Oil Company and Halliburton Company.
Events Leading to the Accident
Shortly after takeoff, the crew was instructed to return to Hamada al Hamra Airport because military activity was ongoing along the route. When the aircraft returned, visibility at the airport had dropped due to fog.
Approach and Impact
Following a short holding circuit, the crew attempted to land. On short final, the aircraft struck a concrete pipeline bridge and a wooden electrical pylon. It then crashed a few hundred meters short of the runway and burst into flames.
Damage and Fatalities
The aircraft was destroyed, and all 14 occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
It is possible that the pilot-in-command suffered an optical illusion on short final and mistook the concrete pipeline bridge for the runway.