What happened
On a scheduled ferry flight intended to deliver an aircraft from the United States to the French Air Force, a crew encountered severe weather conditions while approaching Scotland. The flight path included stops at Keflavik and Prestwick prior to its final destination in France.
During the night approach, the aircraft encountered significantly reduced visibility caused by adverse weather. While operating at an altitude of approximately 800 feet, the aircraft type struck the ground. Following the initial impact, the plane briefly became airborne before crashing near the village of Sorn, located roughly 20 km east of Prestwick Airport. The resulting impact triggered a large explosion. Search teams located the wreckage approximately five hours after the event. There were two fatalities among the crew members.
Findings
- The flight was operating in low visibility due to poor meteorological conditions during the approach phase.