What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation traveling from Paris to Lagos via Niamey, a four-engine aircraft operated by Union des Transports Aériens (UTA) crashed while attempting to land. The flight was transporting various goods when the crew initiated its final approach to runway 09. Before reaching the runway threshold, the aircraft made contact with the ground approximately 800 metres short of the landing strip.
The impact caused the plane to lose its undercarriage, leading to a slide across the terrain for several dozen metres. The wreckage subsequently caught fire. The accident resulted in two fatalities among the crew, while the remaining two crew members sustained injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was the crew's failure to maintain the necessary altitude during the descent. Specifically, the flight crew continued the approach below the glide path until the aircraft struck the ground.