What happened
On the evening of February 19, 1988, AVAir Flight 3378 departed from Raleigh–Durham International Airport en route to Richmond International Airport. The flight was operated by Air Virginia. Shortly after liftoff from Raleigh-Durham, the aircraft experienced a catastrophic failure during the initial climb phase. The plane crashed in the vicinity of the departure airport late that night.
Investigation
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation into the accident to determine the cause of the crash. The inquiry focused on the mechanical integrity of the aircraft and the operational procedures followed by the crew during takeoff and initial climb.
Findings
The investigation confirmed that AVAir Flight 3378 was involved in a fatal accident resulting in the loss of all souls on board. There were 12 fatalities and 0 survivors. The crash occurred during the critical phase of flight immediately following departure, highlighting the severity of the mechanical or operational failure that led to the disaster.