Accident Summary
An aircraft crashed during takeoff after a premature retraction of the landing gear. The accident resulted in the deaths of all five occupants.
Sequence of Events
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft had covered a distance of 1,058 feet from the start of the roll when the crew retracted the undercarriage. Immediately afterward, the aircraft sank onto the runway, causing both engines to strike the ground. The aircraft became uncontrollable and crashed in flames. All five occupants died in the crash.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the probable cause of the accident was premature gear retraction by the crew, who failed to abort the takeoff. The aircraft required a minimum ground roll of 1,525 feet for takeoff, but the propeller blades struck the runway surface after only 1,058 feet.