What happened
During a night-time medical transport mission, a twin-engine aircraft departed from Besançon-La Vèze Airport. The flight was an ambulance mission intended to transport two surgeons from Besançon to Amiens for a medical procedure involving liver harvesting. The crew consisted of the pilot, an operator agent, and the two medical professionals.
After traveling 950 metres along runway 23, the aircraft became airborne. However, the aircraft failed to achieve an adequate climb gradient. This lack of altitude caused the plane to strike trees located approximately 250 metres beyond the end of the runway. The impact caused the aircraft to crash into a nearby wooded area, where it subsequently caught fire. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft and the deaths of all four occupants.
Findings
- The aircraft experienced an insufficient climb gradient following takeoff.
- The collision with trees occurred very close to the runway threshold.