What happened
During a nighttime approach to Birmingham Airport, the flight crew notified air traffic control of difficulties regarding the aircraft's trim. In response to these technical issues, the decision was made to abort the landing and perform a go-around. During the attempt to climb and regain altitude, the aircraft became uncontrollable. The plane entered a stall and subsequently crashed in the vicinity of the airport.
As a result of the impact, there were two fatalities involving the pilots, while both passengers sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the crew was unable to maintain or achieve the necessary airspeed, which led to the aerodynamic stall. Several environmental and operational factors contributed to the loss of control:
- The presence of airframe ice
- Severe icing conditions, specifically involving freezing rain and sleet
- Ice accumulation on the engine
- Ineffective in-flight planning or decision-making during the maneuver
- A steep nose-up attitude following the initiation of the go-around while experiencing trim difficulties