What happened
During an enroute flight from Bucharest to Prague, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by low cloud cover and fog. The pilot lost spatial orientation due to the reduced visibility and elected to descend in altitude to regain visual contact with the terrain. While executing this maneuver, the aircraft struck treetops and impacted a dense wooded area.
Thirteen passengers were successfully rescued from the wreckage. Among the survivors was a diplomatic representative of Romania stationed in Prague. Tragically, thirteen other occupants perished in the accident, which included all five members of the flight crew.
Findings
The official investigation determined that the primary cause of the accident was the decision to fly at an insufficient altitude during poor weather conditions, a maneuver that violated standard navigational rules. Additionally, the report noted that radio failure during the flight was considered a contributory factor to the incident.