What happened
The incident occurred during a commercial cargo operation traveling from Niamey to Cotonou. While en route, the flight crew encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions that reduced visibility and operational safety margins. The aircraft subsequently impacted the slope of a mountain situated near Dadjo, south of Carnotville.
The impact resulted in the total loss of the airframe. All three individuals on board were killed in the accident. The deceased included the pilot, the radio navigator, and the flight engineer. No passengers were present as this was a dedicated freight mission.
Findings
The primary contributing factor cited in the circumstances is the encounter with poor weather conditions during the approach or en-route phase. These conditions likely compromised the crew's ability to maintain safe separation from terrain, leading to the controlled flight into terrain event.