What happened
A long-distance flight originating from Lockbourne AFB in Columbus, Ohio, was en route to Amman, Jordan, via several intermediate stops including Gander, Keflavik, Wiesbaden, Marseille, and Athens. During the transit phase, while flying through stormy weather east of the Rhône Valley, the aircraft type encountered severe weather conditions.
While navigating through low visibility, the aircraft impacted a mountain slope situated near the Devès Pass in the vicinity of Aulan. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the plane and the deaths of all five crew members.
Findings
Investigations into the accident suggest that the flight crew was unable to maintain the intended flight path. It is believed that strong southern wind gusts caused a deviation from the planned track, which went unnoticed by the crew during the period of poor visibility.