What happened
During the initial climb phase, roughly five and a half minutes after takeoff, an unidentified ignition source ignited fuel and air vapors inside the left wing of the aircraft. This explosion caused significant damage, resulting in the loss of both the upper and lower wing skin surfaces. While the primary internal structure of the wing remained intact, the event triggered a fire within the area of the left engine.
Following the explosion, the crew attempted to perform a 180-degree turn to return to McCarran International Airport. As the aircraft transitioned back toward the airport, the airspeed began to drop, and the landing gear was extended. During this descent, the left wing lost sufficient lift due to the structural damage from the initial blast and the reduction in speed, causing the wing to stall. This led to an uncontrollable roll to the left at an altitude of only a few hundred feet, making recovery impossible. The accident resulted in two fatalities.
Findings
Investigations into the sequence of events identified several contributing factors:
- The presence of fuel fumes within the wing interior which ignited during the climb.
- A fire that developed in the left engine assembly following the explosion.
- Inadequate airspeed management by the pilot during the emergency descent.
- The premature extension of the landing gear.
- Psychological factors, including anxiety and apprehension on the part of the pilot in command.
- The inability to perform effective remedial actions once the aircraft entered an uncontrolled roll.