What happened
The flight crew was operating the aircraft on autopilot beneath a cloud layer when meteorological conditions deteriorated. In response to the worsening weather, the captain elected to increase engine power to gain altitude. During this climb within the clouds, the aircraft collided with the slope of a hill and crashed into a densely wooded area. The impact resulted in the deaths of all four crew members and 22 passengers, while four additional occupants sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations indicated that the crew lacked awareness of the specific mountains and obstacles present in the region at the time of the incident. Reduced visibility conditions further complicated the situation. Additionally, an inefficient weather briefing provided by the local weather station was identified as a potential contributory factor to the accident.