What happened
The aircraft was engaged in a scheduled air taxi flight when it crashed during the takeoff phase. The flight involved one pilot and five passengers on board.
The investigation
Investigation of the accident revealed that the takeoff was attempted under hazardous weather conditions. Surface winds were reported as quartering directly across the runway, with speeds ranging from 30 to more than 40 knots. Visibility was severely restricted by blowing snow, dropping as low as 100 feet.
The pilot indicated that he encountered a whiteout condition at liftoff, which significantly impaired his ability to maintain visual references during the critical takeoff roll and initial climb.
Findings
The accident occurred in not injured conditions for all occupants. The primary contributing factors were the severe weather, including strong quartering winds and extremely low visibility due to blowing snow, leading to a whiteout situation at takeoff.
Safety message
This incident highlights the dangers of attempting takeoff operations in blowing snow with limited visibility and strong crosswinds. Pilots must exercise extreme caution and adhere to strict weather minimums during winter operations.