What happened
During a night flight departing from Paris-Orly under favorable weather conditions, the crew received reports of turbulence occurring over the Alps. While cruising at an altitude of 9,500 feet, the four-engine aircraft struck the side of Mt Cimet (also referred to as Mt Cemet), which stands at an elevation of 3,020 meters. The accident occurred approximately 8 km northeast of Allos in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region.
The impact took place at an altitude of 2,870 meters, roughly 150 meters below the mountain's peak. The force of the collision caused the aircraft to disintegrate upon hitting the terrain. There were 42 fatalities among the occupants, with no survivors recorded from the crew or passengers.
Findings
Investigations into the crash indicated that the aircraft was not adhering to its assigned flight track at the time of the accident. The plane had deviated from its prescribed route for reasons that remained unconfirmed. It is believed that a navigation error may have led the aircraft off course, ultimately resulting in a controlled flight into terrain.