What happened
During an evening training exercise conducted with the Albanian Army, a four-engine aircraft assigned to the 352nd Special Operations Group, based at RAF Mildenhall, crashed in a mountainous region. The flight originated from Tirana-Rinas Airport as part of a scheduled night mission.
While operating at an altitude of approximately 300 feet above the ground, the crew was navigating using night-vision goggles. As the aircraft approached a ridge, the crew attempted to increase their altitude. However, the aircraft was unable to maintain sufficient lift, leading to an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft subsequently impacted hilly, snow-covered terrain. The impact resulted in the total destruction of the four-engine aircraft and caused nine fatalities among the occupants.
Findings
- The crew attempted to climb while approaching terrain.
- The aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall during the maneuver.