What happened
During a takeoff roll with ten jumpers on board, the pilot of a Beechcraft attempted to rotate the aircraft once it reached a speed of 100 knots. Despite using the elevator trim and applying significant back pressure on the yoke, the aircraft failed to lift off the runway. The aircraft continued its ground roll and subsequently struck rising terrain located past the runway threshold.
The pilot survived the impact and was able to walk away from the wreckage. An eyewitness reported that the aircraft did not exhibit any nose-up rotation during the takeoff roll and noted that the flight controls appeared functional during the preflight inspection.
Findings
Investigation into the accident focused on the possibility of flight control interference. While the pilot reported removing only one pin from the control lock during preflight, the aircraft's control lock system consisted of two pins, two chains, and a U-shaped engine control lock. Notably, no control locks were recovered from the crash site. However, investigators observed distress signatures on the periphery of the hole where the control lock is installed on the control column shaft.
No mechanical jams, discontinuities, or other forms of interference were identified within the flight control systems. Investigators could not find any other potential source capable of simultaneously jamming both the pitch and roll controls. According to the manufacturer, the expected trim setting for these specific takeoff conditions should have been between 3 and 6 degrees.