What happened
During a nighttime departure from runway 24 at Shannon Airport, an aircraft entered a steep left-hand bank while climbing. The flight path deviated significantly as the plane tilted to a 90-degree angle before impacting the Shannon estuary approximately two miles from the airfield. The impact occurred in an inverted position, leading to the total destruction of the airframe.
All 83 occupants on board perished in the accident. At the time of the crash, environmental conditions were characterized by low visibility resulting from darkness and mist.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that the pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft after takeoff. This loss of control is attributed to a malfunction involving either the right-hand aileron tabs or a failure within the artificial horizon instrument. Additional contributing elements noted during the inquiry included potential crew fatigue and the challenging weather conditions present during the flight.