Accident Details
A twin-engine airplane departed Runway 01 at Panama City-Marcos A. Gelabert Airport on a private flight bound for David-Enrique Malek Airport. The aircraft carried one pilot and one passenger. Immediately after takeoff, the airplane encountered difficulties gaining altitude, entered an uncontrolled descent, and crashed into wooded, hilly terrain located 1,100 feet short of Runway 19. The impact was followed by a fire. The passenger was killed, and the pilot sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was totally destroyed by the post-crash fire.
Probable Cause and Contributing Factors
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident: the aircraft was outside the weight limits established by the manufacturer, conditions that resulted in the aircraft failing to achieve the necessary climb, as a result of which the pilot was unable to maintain control, causing it to strike the ground during takeoff. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the airplane was 173 kilos above maximum takeoff weight (MTOW).
Contributing factors were identified:
- Lack of training and instruction for the crew regarding operation of the accident aircraft (improper use of the pre-takeoff checklist).
- Lack of knowledge of the aircraft's performance charts.
- Lack of supervision regarding the aircraft's dispatch.
- Lack of flight planning regarding weight in accordance with the limitations established by the manufacturer (operating the aircraft outside the MTOW limits).
- Lack of judgment on the part of the pilot when loading the aircraft.