What happened
On a night flight designated as UNO001, a four-engine aircraft was traveling from Léopoldville to Ndola on behalf of United Nations Organizations. The flight was carrying 11 passengers and 5 crew members. During the final approach phase into Ndola, the aircraft descended too low and collided with trees in a wooded area located approximately 15 km before reaching the runway. The impact caused the plane to burst into flames, leading to its total destruction. There were 16 fatalities in the accident, with no survivors among the occupants.
Findings
Investigations into the crash examined several potential contributing factors, including mechanical failure, sabotage, and external attack. While investigators could not definitively rule out the possibility of an attack or technical malfunction due to the extensive fire damage, no physical evidence was found to support theories of sabotage or ground-based interference. Experts noted that the aircraft's approach path appeared consistent with a normal descent rather than one interrupted by an attack.
Regarding human factors, the inquiry focused on whether the crew had descended below the required safety margin during a visual approach. While it was determined that the aircraft was allowed to descend too low, investigators found no conclusive evidence of pilot incapacitation or specific errors such as misreading altimeters. The primary finding was that the aircraft descended below safe altitude limits during its approach, though the exact reason for this low altitude remained unproven.