What happened
During an intersection departure, the pilot elected to forgo the standard holding period intended to mitigate wake turbulence. Shortly before the departure, a Boeing 737-300 passed the aircraft's position, with its nosewheel lifting off the pavement as it moved alongside. The pilot observed that the exhaust from the preceding jet and its associated wake drifted toward the left side of the runway centerline.
Despite receiving a formal wake turbulence advisory from the tower controller, the pilot acknowledged the warning and proceeded with the takeoff. Upon rotation and liftoff, the left wing of the aircraft suddenly dropped. This motion caused the aircraft to strike the runway surface, resulting in the plane rolling into an inverted position. The aircraft then slid off the left edge of the runway, where a post-crash fire ignited.
Findings
- The pilot chose to bypass the recommended separation time for wake turbulence.
- The aircraft encountered wake turbulence from a preceding heavy jet during the takeoff phase.