What happened
During the early morning hours of the incident, Aerotranspecrtos Entre Rios Cargo Flight 501/90 was attempting a takeoff under visual flight rules from runway 27L at Miami International Airport in Florida. As the aircraft accelerated down the runway, it failed to lift off the ground. The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff, but the momentum of the aircraft prevented a successful stop within the remaining runway length.
The aircraft exited the departure end of the runway and traveled approximately 960 feet before crashing into the west bank of a nearby canal. The impact and subsequent fire resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. Among the ten people on board, there were six fatalities and four survivors, including two crewmembers and two passengers. Additionally, the aircraft collided with a vehicle, causing injuries to one person inside the car.
Findings
Investigation into the crash revealed that an unauthorized, makeshift external flight control lock had been attached to the right elevator of the aircraft. This device was installed after the plane had landed in Miami and remained attached through the loading process and taxiing phase.
- The use of this specific external lock was not included in the aircraft's certification.
- The crew failed to identify the presence of the hardware via the flight control surface position indicators.
- The installation of the external elevator lock prevented the pilot from rotating the aircraft into a takeoff attitude.
- By the time the decision to reject the takeoff was made, the aircraft had reached a speed that made stopping on the runway impossible.