What happened
The incident occurred at night while the aircraft was on final approach to Dijon-Longvic Airport. While maintaining an altitude of 800 metres, the pilot reported experiencing control difficulties. In response to these issues, the pilot requested that other crew members move to the front of the cabin. Shortly thereafter, the aircraft entered a stall from the tail and began a steep dive. The craft ultimately impacted the ground in a wooded area within the commune of Corcelles-les-Monts, situated approximately 7 km west of Dijon.
Four members of the crew remained inside the cabin at the time of impact and were killed in the accident. Two other crew members managed to bail out before the crash; both survived with slight injuries. The flight crew consisted of a pilot, a gunner, a mechanic, and a radio operator.
Findings
Official investigations determined that the accident was caused by a loss of control during the approach phase. This loss of control resulted from the failure of an elevator control cable. Evidence suggests that the elevator component eventually detached completely, leading to the uncontrollable dive.