Flight Description
The aircraft departed Wheelus AFB in Tripoli in the morning on a liaison flight to Hahn, near Frankfurt, with an intermediate stop at Rome-Ciampino Airport. Before departure from Rome, the crew received a basic weather bulletin.
Accident Narrative
While cruising over the Alps, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions with low clouds and snow falls. At an altitude of 8,000 feet, the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located near Saint-Étienne-de-Tinée, about 65 km north of Nice. The aircraft disintegrated on impact, and all 20 occupants were killed. The crew consisted of Captain Edward B. Eden 1.
Probable Cause
According to the official findings, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by several kilometers due to strong winds gusting up to 80 knots. Due to low visibility caused by poor weather conditions (clouds and snow falls), the crew failed to recognize the heading deviation and was unable to distinguish the mountain. In such conditions, the crew did not proceed to any correction until the aircraft impacted terrain.