What happened
During a nighttime cargo operation, a twin engine airplane was performing the final leg of a multi-stop route originating in Paducah and traveling toward Detroit, with a scheduled stop at Toledo-Express Airport. While executing the approach, the flight crew attempted to level off the aircraft but failed to do so correctly. In response to this improper altitude maintenance, the crew initiated a go-around procedure.
During the subsequent climb, the aircraft became uncontrollable and impacted the ground near the airport, resulting in a post-crash fire. The impact and ensuing flames led to the total destruction of the airframe. There were two fatalities among the crew members involved in the flight.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical contributing factors related to the aircraft's configuration and the crew's actions. The primary cause was determined to be an improper level-off maneuver combined with insufficient preflight preparation by the crew.
Specific technical findings included:
- The aircraft was loaded improperly, affecting its weight and balance.
- The Center of Gravity (CofG) was positioned beyond the aft limits by approximately 5.47 inches.
- Witnesses observed the aircraft pitching up to an extreme angle during the go-around attempt.