What happened
On a scheduled instrument flight rules departure from Montmagny to Montreal/St-Hubert, Quebec, the aircraft, identified as flight MAX100, was preparing for takeoff on runway 26. The flight was carrying a total of six people, including two pilots and four passengers. As the aircraft reached a speed of approximately 100 knots during the rotation phase, the crew observed a large number of birds on the final portion of the 3,010-foot runway.
During the transition to flight, the aircraft collided with the birds, which caused the left engine to suffer a loss of power. This mechanical failure induced a leftward yaw and roll. Consequently, the aircraft lost altitude and made contact with the runway surface to the left of the centerline, less than 100 feet before the runway terminus. The crew attempted to abort the takeoff, but the aircraft overran the runway and eventually stopped in a field located 885 feet beyond the runway end. All occupants successfully evacuated through the primary door. There were no injuries reported, though the aircraft sustained substantial damage.
Findings
- The primary cause of the engine failure was a bird strike occurring during the takeoff rotation.