What happened
On the afternoon of the accident, a four-engine aircraft departed from Douala Airport at 14:08 local time, intended for a flight to Niamey. Shortly after departing, approximately four minutes into the flight, the crew altered the planned trajectory, steering the plane toward the northwest while maintaining an altitude of 8,500 feet.
Roughly twenty minutes following this deviation, the aircraft was operating in clear weather conditions. However, due to the sun's position, the pilot in command encountered visibility issues. During this period, the pilot identified a mountain directly ahead and attempted an abrupt left-hand maneuver. During this turn, the left wing made contact with trees, causing the aircraft to lose control. The plane subsequently struck Mount Cameroon and broke apart upon impact. There were 29 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the crash was the result of a navigation error committed by the crew. After departing Douala, the flight crew chose to deviate from the established flight procedures and follow an unverified route. The investigation noted that the crew failed to adhere to the original flight plan or properly validate their improvised path. Additionally, investigators identified errors in judgment and overconfidence among the crew as contributing elements to the accident.