What happened
During the early stages of flight following departure from Albuquerque Airport, the pilot encountered a critical situation and declared an emergency. While attempting to return to the airfield as instructed, the aircraft experienced a total loss of control. The plane entered a steep descent and impacted a field located in the vicinity of the airport, where it caught fire upon impact. The accident resulted in nine fatalities and the complete destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified that an engine malfunction or failure occurred during the climb phase, leading to the uncontrolled descent. Several contributing factors were documented regarding the condition of the aircraft and its maintenance. A primary cause was the improperly secured left front cargo door, which opened while the plane was in flight. This event caused damage to the left propeller due to foreign object impact and created significant aerodynamic drag.
Additional findings highlighted several systemic issues, including:
- Insufficient preflight inspections and preparation
- Deficiencies in maintenance and inspection protocols
- Inadequate oversight by operational supervisory personnel
- Failure of company-maintained equipment and services
- An inoperative door safety system
- Existing damage to the aircraft that was either known or suspected