What happened
During the final approach to runway 03, Ryan flight 103 crashed before reaching the runway. While the fuselage remained intact upon impact, the force of the vertical deceleration was severe enough to exceed the structural design limits of the seating. The accident resulted in 18 fatalities and 3 survivors. During the emergency response, rescuers encountered difficulties disabling the electrical systems, which hindered the extraction of the first officer from the wreckage.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical issues regarding weight, balance, and flight configuration. The aircraft was loaded with roughly 600 lbs of cargo in excess of the amount requested by the first officer. This error caused the center of gravity to sit between 8 and 11 inches behind the permitted aft limit. Furthermore, the crew failed to follow established FAA and company protocols regarding center-of-gravity calculations.
Environmental factors also played a role, as ice measuring up to 3/8 inches had built up on the leading edges of the aircraft type. Evidence suggests that the flight crew lost control of the aircraft during the extension of the flaps. At the time of the crash, the stabilizer trim was set to the full nose-down position, and the right flap actuator was positioned between 7 and 12 degrees. While testing indicated that 3/8 inches of ice should not have caused significant handling issues, the combination of an aft center of gravity and flap deployment led to a loss of stability.