What happened
While en route back to Canada, an aircraft carrying the wreckage of a RCAF DHC-3 Otter (c/n 185) that had previously been lost in Gaza encountered extreme meteorological difficulties. As the flight proceeded over the Apennines mountain range, the crew faced heavy snowfall and significant icing conditions.
As the weather worsened, the aircraft began to lose altitude. In response to the deteriorating situation, the captain initiated an emergency landing procedure. During this attempt, the plane collided with trees and came to rest in rugged terrain. The impact resulted in the destruction of both the active aircraft and the cargo. Despite the severity of the crash, all seven crew members were successfully evacuated from the wreckage.
Findings
- The primary factor leading to the accident was the encounter with severe icing and snow while traversing a mountain range.