What happened
During a nighttime departure from Baltimore-Friendship Airport, an aircraft experienced significant issues while attempting to climb shortly after leaving the ground. As the plane ascended, it struggled to maintain sufficient altitude and subsequently entered a stall. The aircraft impacted the terrain located near the runway threshold.
The accident resulted in one fatality involving the pilot, while the passenger sustained serious injuries. The impact caused the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical errors regarding the flight's preparation and weight distribution. It was determined that the aircraft was loaded beyond its maximum allowable gross weight, with the center of gravity positioned outside of approved limits. Additionally, the cargo within the cabin had not been properly secured for flight.
The primary factor contributing to the loss of control was the pilot's failure to maintain necessary airspeed due to insufficient preflight checks and improper loading procedures.