What happened
During a geological survey operation intended to locate uranium deposits, an aircraft was navigating through a valley when it encountered deteriorating weather conditions. The crew faced significantly reduced visibility due to the presence of low-hanging clouds.
While operating in this environment, the pilot-in-command identified a mountain directly in the flight path and initiated a 180-degree turn to avoid the obstacle. During this maneuver, the aircraft type struck the terrain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane. There were three fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors reported from the crew.
Findings
- The mission was being conducted as a geo-survey for uranium.
- Limited visibility caused by low clouds prevented the crew from maintaining safe clearance from terrain during the turn.