What happened
During a nighttime departure from Rockingham-Hamlet Airport, a twin-engine aircraft entered its initial climb phase before colliding with overhead wires. The impact caused the plane to crash into a field covered in snow, where it subsequently caught fire. The pilot was the only person on board at the time of the accident and sustained serious injuries during the event.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors related to the flight's departure. The primary cause was determined to be a collision with wires resulting from insufficient preflight preparations by the pilot-in-command.
Several contributing elements were noted during the inquiry:
- The pilot did not abort the takeoff sequence despite emerging hazards.
- An unsuitable terrain area was selected for the flight path.
- Standard operating procedures and good practices were disregarded.
- Environmental conditions played a significant role, as the runway was covered in snow.
- The aircraft departed with approximately half an inch of snow accumulated on the wings.