What happened
During a night departure from Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, Kentucky, an aircraft bound for Atlanta, Georgia, failed to follow runway assignment instructions. While the flight crew had been directed to utilize runway 22, the aircraft instead positioned itself on runway 26 to begin its takeoff roll. During this maneuver, the plane exited the runway at the far end, striking a perimeter fence, several trees, and the surrounding terrain.
The accident resulted in the deaths of 49 people, including the captain, the flight attendant, and 47 passengers. The first officer survived the impact but sustained serious injuries. The aircraft, operating under Part 121 regulations, was completely destroyed by the force of the collision and a subsequent fire.
Findings
At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were characterized by night visual meteorological conditions. The primary factor in the accident was the crew's failure to use the assigned runway, as they lined up on runway 26 instead of the instructed runway 22.