Accident Overview
On the day of the accident, the aircraft was tasked with dropping eight parachutists from flight level 130, equivalent to an altitude of 13,000 feet (approximately 4,000 meters). The load sheet provided to the pilot did not include individual weights of the parachutists or the total mass of the load, preventing the pilot from independently verifying mass and balance before departure.
Sequence of Events
As the aircraft approached the airport at 14:05 hours, the pilot requested permission to conduct the parachute drop at a slightly higher altitude due to cloud cover. The airspeed was decreasing as the aircraft neared the airport. Just over one kilometer from the designated jump point, the aircraft abruptly changed direction to the left and began a rapid descent in nearly the opposite direction. During this descent, the aircraft traveled less than one kilometer while losing 1,500 meters of altitude, corresponding to a dive angle exceeding 45 degrees. The aircraft broke up in midair as both airspeed and g-forces surpassed its certified limits. From an altitude of 2,000 meters, the aircraft fell almost vertically at a descent rate of approximately 60 meters per second.
Occupant Outcomes
No occupants were able to exit the aircraft using their parachutes, likely due to the g-forces and rotations experienced. All individuals on board remained in the aircraft and died upon impact.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined that control was probably lost due to low airspeed and instability caused by a tail-heavy configuration combined with weather conditions and a heavy workload relative to the pilot's knowledge and experience. The pilot's limited experience and knowledge of flying without visual references and of center-of-gravity changes likely prevented recovery of control. Contributing factors included the lack of a safe system for risk analysis and operational support, absence of standardized practical and theoretical training with qualified instructor approval, and no safe system for determining center of gravity before and during parachute jumps.