Accident
During the takeoff roll at Paola Airport, the pilot decided to abandon the procedure and initiated an emergency braking maneuver. Unable to stop within the remaining runway distance, the twin-engine airplane overran the runway and came to rest in a ravine, where it was engulfed in flames.
Occupants
All 10 occupants—the pilot and nine skydivers—escaped the aircraft uninjured. The airplane was destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined the probable cause to be a premature liftoff on the part of the pilot, who failed to obtain sufficient flying speed on takeoff. Contributing factors reported include improper operation of the powerplant and powerplant controls, the aircraft settling back onto the runway, the pilot retarding only one engine, and the aircraft sliding down the runway before being destroyed by the post-crash fire.