What happened
Shortly after departing from Albuquerque Airport, a twin engine airplane experienced an aerodynamic stall. The aircraft descended and struck the ground near the terminus of the runway, where it subsequently caught fire. There were two fatalities among the occupants of the aircraft.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing elements to the loss of control during the climb phase. The pilot reportedly mismanaged the takeoff by selecting a runway that was not aligned correctly with the prevailing wind conditions. This decision was allegedly influenced by a misconception regarding a ferry permit, which the pilot believed restricted operations to a shorter runway to avoid flying over populated areas.
Additional environmental and operational factors included:
- Operating at a high density altitude of approximately 9,000 feet
- Inadequate preparation prior to the flight
- The presence of an uphill gradient on the departure path
Ultimately, the accident was driven by a stall occurring during the initial climb following a misunderstanding of operational instructions.