What happened
A non-scheduled international cargo operation was underway on 12 December 1963, traveling from Beirut, Lebanon, toward Kabul, Afghanistan, with a stopover in Kuwait. The flight, operated by a crew of three, arrived in Kuwait at 0036 hours GMT and departed for the next leg of the journey at 0256 hours. During the transit, the aircraft passed Kandahar and Kalat while maintaining flight level 110.
By 0942 hours, the aircraft reported passing Ghazni at flight level 150, with an expected arrival in Kabul at 1010 hours. Upon reaching the vicinity of Kabul at 0958 hours, the crew requested updated weather information. Due to unfavorable meteorological conditions at the destination, the pilot decided to divert the flight to Lahore, planning a route via Ghazni, Kandahar, and Zahedan.
At 1008 hours, the aircraft reported being approximately 25 miles from Kabul while flying at flight level 150. After receiving clearance to route frequency from the Kabul tower, all communication with the aircraft ceased. The wreckage was not located until 16 August 1964, when Afghan soldiers discovered it following the seasonal snowmelt. The debris field was situated in the Koh-i-Safid Mountains at an altitude of 13,940 feet, approximately 50 NM west of Ghazni and 42 NM away from the intended flight path.
Findings
The investigation concluded that a miscalculation of wind speed and direction led to a significant navigational deviation from the approved airway. Other contributing elements identified included insufficient weather briefings before departure, crew fatigue, personal distractions, inadequate oxygen supply, and the use of improper charts or maps.