What happened
During the takeoff roll, the pilot of the aircraft applied back pressure once the airspeed reached approximately 90 knots. Although a brief positive rate of climb was initially noted, the aircraft began to sink as airspeed rapidly decreased. This was followed by the activation of the stall warning horn. In an attempt to recover the decaying airspeed, the pilot lowered the nose and leveled the wings, but the aircraft ultimately impacted the ocean.
At the time of the accident, wind conditions were recorded at 15 knots, with gusts reaching 28 knots, blowing from a direction 110 degrees downwind of the aircraft's path. While the pilot had briefed passengers regarding the downwind takeoff, there was no discussion regarding how these wind conditions might impact the takeoff performance. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies prior to the event.
Findings
Investigation into the aircraft's configuration revealed that the estimated gross weight was approximately 769.6 pounds above the approved maximum limit. Additionally, the estimated center of gravity was approximately 8.24 inches beyond the approved aft limit for the maximum gross weight. These factors, combined with the decision to perform a downwind takeoff, likely caused the aerodynamic stall and subsequent loss of control.
Further examination of the operator revealed several instances of noncompliance with operational procedures. These included operating overweight flights, maintaining inaccurate or incomplete flight logs, and the pilot's failure to perform a required flight risk assessment. While the operator maintained a safety management system, the investigation concluded that the program was insufficient to effectively monitor and mitigate such operational hazards.