Incident Summary
During a rejected takeoff, the airplane departed the runway end and came to rest on a dike and a tidal mud flat. The accident occurred after the crew initiated a rejected takeoff.
Findings
Flight data recorder (FDR) information confirmed that the flightcrew had not selected the pitot heat to the 'on' position. This allowed a buildup of snow and/or ice in the pitot/static system tubes and ports, resulting in erroneous airspeed readings during the attempted takeoff.
Analysis of the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) revealed substantial deviations from standard checklist procedures during the flight.
Timeline
The FDR data showed that 19 seconds elapsed between the moment the airplane actually accelerated through 60 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS)—the first marked value on the airspeed indicator—and the initiation of the rejected takeoff.