What happened
On the evening of the accident, a Challenger 650 arrived at Bangor Airport from Houston as the first leg of an international journey bound for Châlons-Vatry. The aircraft landed at 1809LT and remained stationary on the apron for approximately one hour. Between 1917LT and 1936LT, the aircraft was moved to a deicing pad to undergo necessary procedures.
After completing the deicing process, the crew taxied the aircraft to runway 33. The plane was granted clearance for takeoff at 1944LT. During the initial climb phase, after traveling roughly 1,700 metres and reaching a speed of 152 knots, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of control. The plane rolled to the right, inverted, and impacted snow-covered ground. The impact left the aircraft upside down, and a post-crash fire partially destroyed the wreckage. All six fatalities were recorded.
Findings
At the time of the accident, environmental conditions were hazardous, characterized by falling snow, restricted visibility, and an outside air temperature of -17°. The aircraft experienced a loss of control during the early stages of its ascent.