Flight Details
A night cargo operation was conducted with a check captain in the right seat evaluating a first officer in the left seat for a possible upgrade to captain. Before departure, the flight was cleared for a right turn after takeoff to 020 degrees. Takeoff began at 0441:11. Water-methanol injection was used until the first power reduction.
Accident Sequence
At 0441:49, the landing gear was retracted. Eight seconds later, the first power reduction was made, and a frequency change was approved. The captain noted that they should climb to 1500 feet MSL (approximately 500 feet AGL) before turning. At about 300 feet AGL, the aircraft entered overcast cloud conditions and began a steep right turn. The cockpit voice recorder indicated the captain was performing cockpit duties and providing information to the first officer about the departure. Flight data recorder data showed the aircraft reached a maximum altitude of 423 feet AGL and then began descending.
At 0442:22, the captain remarked to the first officer, 'Don't go down . . . Get up . . . Up up up . . . Up, oh!' At about that time, the aircraft struck the ground in an open field but continued flying for approximately 3/4 mile. It then hit a tree and crashed into a wooded area.
Investigation Findings
The investigation revealed that during several training flights and two check flights, the first officer demonstrated difficulty in performing instrument flight due to disorientation, narrow focus of attention, or lack of instrument scan (instrument fixation), especially during high task workload.