What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from North Perry Airport, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude. The descent led to a collision with the ground near the runway's terminus. Upon impact, a significant post-crash fire erupted, which completely destroyed the airframe.
There were three fatalities recorded among the occupants of the plane. No survivors were reported from the flight crew or passengers on board.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical issues regarding the aircraft's configuration and preparation. The primary factor was an uncontrolled impact with the ground during the early stages of flight, which was attributed to insufficient preflight checks performed by the crew.
Additional contributing elements included:
- The aircraft was loaded incorrectly prior to departure.
- The total weight was estimated to be roughly 150 lbs above the maximum allowable gross weight.
- The center of gravity was positioned approximately 3 inches behind the permitted aft limit for takeoff.