Accident
While descending to Silchar Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy turbulence. The airplane nosed down and eventually crashed in a field located 56 kilometers west of Silchar Airport. The airplane was destroyed upon impact and all 24 occupants were killed.
Investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and determined the sequence of events. The aircraft had been flying through a thunderstorm when a structural failure occurred. The failure originated in the port centre section and was due to loads that exceeded the ultimate design value for the structure. It was not possible to establish whether the pilot adopted the correct procedure for flying in turbulence.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause of the accident is structural failure while the aircraft was flying through a thunderstorm. The failure originated in the port centre section and was due to loads which exceeded the ultimate design value for the structure. It was not possible to establish whether the pilot adopted the correct procedure for flying in turbulence.