What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Kariba Airport, the aircraft was targeted and hit by two SAM-7 missiles. The impact caused the plane to lose all control, leading to a rapid descent into the terrain. The subsequent crash resulted in a massive explosion a short distance from the airport perimeter.
The accident led to the total destruction of the airframe and the loss of all 59 fatalities on board. There were no survivors recorded from the incident.
Findings
Investigation into the crash determined that the primary cause of the disaster was the impact of two missiles fired by ZIPRA guerrillas. The strike effectively disabled the aircraft during its ascent, making recovery impossible.