What happened
On the morning of the accident, MKA1602 arrived at Halifax International Airport, touching down on Runway 24 at 05:12. Following the landing, the aircraft taxied to the ramp where ground operations commenced. During the period when the aircraft was being loaded, two members of the MK Airlines Limited crew were noted resting in the upper deck passenger seats. The refueling process concluded with a total fuel load of 89,400 kg, including 72,062 kg of new fuel. After the ground engineer verified the fueling and moved to the cargo deck, the loading process continued.
During the final stages of ground handling, a ramp supervisor entered the cockpit to collect flight documents and observed that the first officer was not in his designated seat. The aircraft began taxiing toward the takeoff position on Runway 24 at 06:47, initiating the takeoff roll at 06:53. During the rotation phase, the lower aft section of the aircraft type/model (not specified in source, but part of the MKA1602 event) made initial contact with the runway surface. A subsequent, more forceful contact occurred between the lower aft fuselage and the runway.
The aircraft failed to lift off within the runway limits, instead traveling 825 feet past the runway end before becoming airborne for a distance of 325 feet. During this flight, the lower aft fuselage struck an earthen berm used for an ILS localizer antenna. The impact caused the tail to separate from the fuselage. The remaining portion of the aircraft traveled approximately 1,200 feet through the air before striking the ground and catching fire. The wreckage was located at 44°52'51" N and 063°30'31" W. The accident resulted in seven fatalities, with all crew members lost.
Findings
- The aircraft sustained structural failure and separation of the tail section upon striking an earthen berm.
- The impact with the terrain and subsequent post-crash fire led to the total destruction of the aircraft.