What happened
The flight was operating its final leg from Manono to Elisabethville. During the approach phase, the aircraft was flying at a relatively low altitude under good weather conditions. The plane entered an uncontrolled descent and impacted the ground inverted in a wooded area located in Kimbwe, approximately 60 km north of Elisabethville.
Upon impact, the airframe disintegrated completely. There were no survivors among the 13 occupants on board. The crew consisted of two pilots, a flight engineer, and a steward. At the time of the accident, meteorological reports indicated good visibility with few clouds and no turbulence.
Findings
Official investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. However, several potential factors were explicitly ruled out as contributing causes. Investigators determined that an in-flight fire was not responsible for the event. Additionally, the loss of structural elements such as a wing or stabilizer was excluded. Finally, airframe vibrations resulting from faulty weight balance were also dismissed as a possible cause.