Overview
An airline transport pilot, serving as pilot flying, and a commercial pilot, acting as safety pilot not trained on the airplane, prepared for a personal flight with eight passengers. The pilot determined the airplane had 900 lbs of fuel upon arrival and instructed fueling with 211 gallons (1,413.7 lbs), resulting in a total of 2,313.7 lbs. The pilot was aware the total weight of passengers, bags, and fuel exceeded the maximum gross takeoff weight but did not complete a weight and balance form or determine expected takeoff performance. He informed the other pilot the flight would be heavy but did not specify the excess. After the accident, he calculated the airplane was 623 lbs over maximum gross takeoff weight.
Preflight and Takeoff Roll
During the pretakeoff check, flight controls and engines operated normally, and the elevator pitch trim was positioned in the "green" range. The pilot taxied onto the runway, applied brakes, and increased throttles to takeoff power before releasing brakes. He did not confirm the power settings after advancing the throttles. During the takeoff roll, the airplane accelerated slower than expected. At about halfway down the 5,500-ft runway, airspeed was 80 kts, so the pilot continued. The airplane still did not accelerate as expected, and he heard the other pilot say "redline," prompting him to reduce power.
Accident Sequence
By the last third of the runway, the pilot pulled back on the control yoke to lift off, but the stall warning sounded. He lowered the nose but was near the runway end. He did not apply brakes or reverse propellers. The airplane departed the runway, and he veered right to avoid an instrument landing system antenna located 500 ft from the runway end. The left wing struck the antenna, the left main landing gear and nose gear collapsed, and both propellers contacted the ground. The airplane skidded left and stopped about 680 ft from the runway end. No preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures were reported.
Probable Cause
The pilot's inadequate preflight planning, his decision to take off knowing the airplane was over its gross takeoff weight, and his failure to abort the takeoff after he realized that the airplane was not accelerating as expected, which resulted in a runway excursion.