What happened
On May 3, a four-engine aircraft departed from Douala Airport at 14:16 local time, en route to Lagos. During the initial climb, as the plane reached an altitude of approximately 6,500 feet, it collided with the terrain on the slope of Mount Cameroon, situated roughly 63 km northwest of its departure point. Search efforts located the debris field several hours after the impact, positioned about 800 meters below the mountain's summit.
The accident resulted in a total of 53 fatalities among the occupants. While two passengers initially survived the impact with serious injuries, both individuals later succumbed to their wounds; one died on May 6 and the second passed away on May 9.
Findings
Official investigations concluded that the primary factor in the accident was the pilot-in-command's decision to fly through a restricted or hazardous sector at an insufficient altitude. The investigation also noted that the pilot failed to maintain proper navigational oversight and transitioned to instrument flight procedures while approaching the mountainous region, which contributed to the collision with the slope.