Accident Overview
Shortly after a night takeoff from Gaborone-Seretse Khama Airport, the flight crew encountered problems with all four engines, which lost power and backfired. Unable to gain sufficient height, the aircraft struck tree tops, stalled, and crashed in flames approximately 3,600 meters past the runway end, two minutes after liftoff.
Rescue and Casualties
A crew member and five passengers were rescued from the wreckage, while 78 other occupants were killed. Most of the passengers were employees of the South African Mining Company returning home.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined that all four engines lost power during initial climb due to fuel contamination. Investigations revealed that the aircraft was refueled with Avgas, but confusion by ground personnel at Gaborone Airport caused Jet A1 to be transferred into an Avgas fuel tank. This resulted in the aircraft being fueled with Avgas contaminated with 25–30% Jet A1, leading to the engine failures.