Background
The flight was a return cargo journey after completing a cargo flight from Larnaca to Muscat. The crew prepared the return trip and conducted a night takeoff from runway 26 at Muscat-Seeb Airport.
Accident
During the initial climb, at approximately 1,000 feet above ground, air traffic control cleared the flight to climb to 12,000 feet. Shortly afterward, the pilot-in-command initiated a 40° left turn. About three minutes after takeoff, the aircraft struck the slope of Mt Hameem near Fanja, roughly 20 kilometers southwest of Muscat Airport. The impact caused the aircraft to disintegrate. All four crew members were killed.
Official Investigation
The investigation concluded that, for unknown reasons, the crew initiated a left turn after takeoff from runway 26 instead of a right turn as specified in published departure procedures.