Accident Overview
The accident occurred shortly after a night takeoff from Sharjah Airport. As the aircraft climbed, the pilot lost control, leading to a stall and subsequent crash in a desert area near the runway end. One passenger was killed, while all other occupants were rescued. The passengers were Pakistan pilgrims traveling from Karachi to Jeddah.
Sequence of Events
At the time of the accident, the copilot was seated in the left-hand seat and the captain in the right-hand seat. After takeoff, during the climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The first officer was handling the flight controls.
Probable Cause
The accident resulted from a loss of control of the aircraft by the first officer shortly after taking off on a dark night when instrument flying was necessary. This loss of control was due to the inability of the first officer to fly on instruments. The responsibility for the accident is attributed to the captain for failing to supervise the piloting of the aircraft by the first officer.