What happened
On the night of the accident, an Embraer Phenom 300 (registration N700SP), operated by Stribling-Puckett, Inc., was positioned at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, following a ferry flight from Savannah, Georgia. After the pilot loaded baggage into the aft compartment, eight passengers boarded the aircraft for a scheduled trip to Jackson, Mississippi.
During the departure sequence, the aircraft taxied onto runway 3, utilizing a 300-foot overrun area to perform a 180-degree turn before initiating a running takeoff. Witnesses and pilots on the ground noted that while the engines appeared to be operating smoothly without unusual noise, they suspected the engines were not producing full power. The takeoff roll was observed to be excessively long, covering approximately 3,900 feet of pavement.
After reaching an altitude where the aircraft leveled off, it traveled roughly 1,200 feet before striking the top of a tree located 40 to 50 feet above the ground. The aircraft then struck several additional trees over the next 1,200 to 1,300 feet before coming to a stop in an upright position. A fire broke out behind the wreckage; however, its slow progression enabled the three survivors to exit through a breach in the forward left side of the fuselage. The accident resulted in 6 fatalities and one injury.
Findings
Investigators determined that the pilot failed to maintain a positive rate of climb while departing toward an unlit area under night, visual meteorological conditions. This lack of climb led directly to the collision with the trees. Additionally, evidence suggested the aircraft was in an overweight condition, exceeding its maximum gross takeoff weight by 436 lbs, with the center of gravity positioned near the aft limit.