Accident Details
A privately owned and operated Beech UC45-J departed a clay-and-gravel airstrip at an outfitter's camp near Swan Lake, Yukon Territory, bound for Mayo. The aircraft carried the pilot, two passengers, luggage, and a reported 800 pounds of moose and caribou meat. Witnesses observed a normal acceleration during the takeoff roll, with the tail lifting off first. After becoming airborne, the aircraft entered a steep climb, then yawed and banked sharply to the left. It descended into the Pleasant Creek valley off the end of the runway in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude. An explosion occurred, followed by a plume of smoke. Two people immediately attempted to rescue the occupants but discovered the aircraft partly submerged in the creek and engulfed in flames from the post-crash fire. There were no survivors.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation identified the following causes and contributing factors: The meat was loaded onto the aircraft on a slippery surface and was not adequately secured. The manner in which the meat was loaded and secured most likely allowed the load to shift to the rear of the cabin during take-off. This rearward shift resulted in the loss of pitch control and an aerodynamic stall from which the pilot could not recover. Additionally, the aircraft's center of gravity was most likely at or aft of the aft limit before engine start.