What happened
During ground operations, the fourth engine of the aircraft failed to initiate its starting sequence because of a malfunction within the starter mechanism. In an attempt to resolve the issue, the captain increased the taxi speed with the intention of using propeller windmilling to achieve engine ignition.
Although the engine successfully started, the momentum of the aircraft became difficult to manage. The pilot was unable to decelerate the plane sufficiently, resulting in the aircraft veering off the designated taxiway. During the excursion, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and eventually stopped after impacting a small embankment.
While there were no injuries among the three crew members, the aircraft sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.
Findings
Investigation into the event determined that the primary factor was an error of judgment by the pilot. Specifically, the crew failed to reduce throttle settings and apply the brakes with enough urgency to prevent the aircraft from rolling past the edge of the taxiway.