Accident Details
A twin-engine airplane crashed in a field near Balad, approximately 38 km northeast of Mogadishu Airport, eight minutes after takeoff. The aircraft had departed from Mogadishu Airport and was climbing when it entered a thunderstorm area characterized by heavy rainfall and severe turbulence. The airplane went out of control and entered a dive. Due to excessive g loads, the right wing detached, and the airplane subsequently crashed. All 50 occupants were killed.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the aircraft entered a spiral dive after encountering strong vertical gusts. During the dive, loads increased to approximately 5.76 g, exceeding the design stress limits of the aircraft and causing the right wing to separate. The flight crew were believed to have erred in taking off during known thunderstorm conditions.