What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation originating from Burgas, the crew attempted an approach to runway 25 at Asmara-Yohannes IV Airport. While descending, the aircraft encountered patches of fog that reduced visibility in the area. At an altitude of approximately 2,405 metres, the aircraft type struck a mountain slope located roughly 4.3 km before reaching the runway threshold. The impact caused the airframe to disintegrate. There were 10 fatalities and no survivors among the occupants. The debris field was located 72 metres below the mountain summit, with wreckage remains documented at coordinates N15.304268 E38.959811 as of late 2012.
Findings
Several contributing factors were identified regarding the accident. The crew opted to execute a visual approach to runway 25, despite the standard operating procedure requiring an instrument approach to runway 07. This decision was made under marginal weather conditions characterized by limited visibility. Furthermore, air traffic control provided clearance for the approach to runway 25, which did not align with established published procedures. The crew also failed to execute a go-around when necessary. A critical factor was that the aircraft weight at takeoff exceeded the maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) by at least 37 tons, a condition the crew likely did not realize.