Accident Overview
A commercial cargo flight operating under an instrument flight rules flight plan crashed approximately 1 mile offshore after departing during dark night. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The departure end of the runway is adjacent to an ocean bay. No radio communications with the flight crew were reported after the airplane departed.
Flight and Weather Conditions
Wind gusts up to 26 knots were reported at the airport. Local residents north of the airport reported stronger winds, estimated between 50 and 60 knots. A fuel truck operator, familiar with the crew's normal routine, reported that before the airplane taxied to the runway, it remained on the ramp for 6 or 8 minutes with both engines operating, which he described as very unusual.
Wreckage and Examination
The airplane crashed about 1 mile offshore, and the fragmented wreckage sank in ocean water. Because of the fragmented nature of the wreckage and ocean currents, the complete wreckage was not recovered. The cockpit area forward of the wings was extensively fragmented, rendering any postaccident cockpit and instrument findings unreliable. Structural damage to the airframe precluded determining flight control continuity.
Propellers and Engines
Both propellers had witness marks consistent with operating under engine power and within their normal operating range. A postaccident examination of the engines and recovered components did not disclose any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
Probable Cause
Due to the lack of mechanical deficiencies of the engines and propellers, and the extensive airframe fragmentation consistent with a high-speed water impact, it is likely that the crew had an in-flight loss of control of an unknown origin before impact. The official probable cause is an in-flight loss of control for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent.