Investigation Summary
The flight was operated by Alia Royal Jordanian on behalf of Royal Air Maroc. As the aircraft approached Agadir from the northeast, it deviated from the standard north-south corridor typically used for arrivals. During a descent from 8,000 feet in conditions of heavy fog and darkness, the crew failed to maintain positive course guidance. At 04:25 local time, the right wingtip and the number 4 engine struck a mountain peak at an altitude of approximately 2,400 feet. The impact caused a portion of the wing to separate; although the crew briefly increased engine power, the aircraft became uncontrollable and disintegrated in a valley 1,800 feet below the initial impact point. The destruction was so severe that search teams found no wreckage pieces larger than one square meter.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded the primary cause was pilot error. The flight crew initiated a descent without ensuring they had positive course guidance and failed to follow the established air corridor for Agadir. Contributing factors included the darkness of night, local patches of heavy fog, and a lack of visual ground references in the mountainous terrain.
Video Analysis
No video analysis linked for this case file yet.
Systems & Failure Modes
Course Guidance
The crew failed to utilize or confirm positive electronic navigation guidance before descending into mountainous terrain.
Pratt & Whitney JT3D-3B
The four turbofan engines powering the Boeing 707-321C.
Interesting Facts
- 01Deadliest aviation accident in Moroccan history.
- 02Deadliest accident involving the Boeing 707 aircraft type.
- 03The aircraft was 11 years old at the time of the crash with 39,749 flight hours.
- 04All 181 passengers were Moroccan-French nationals returning home for summer holidays.
- 05Local residents had to walk 19 kilometers to reach a telephone to notify authorities of the crash.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Adherence to Flight Corridors
The accident highlighted the critical importance of strictly following established air corridors and approach paths, especially in mountainous regions during low visibility.