What happened
During a night departure, an aircraft entered a collision course with rising terrain approximately 1.25 miles from the runway threshold. The incident occurred while the aircraft was in its initial climb phase. Records from the operator confirmed that the pilot had previously operated flights from this specific airport. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was flying at a weight roughly 600 pounds under its maximum certificated gross weight.
Findings
Post-accident investigations included a detailed teardown of the engines, which showed no mechanical issues or anomalies prior to the impact. Inspections of the propellers revealed damage patterns that were consistent with the blades striking the ground while in a flat pitch setting under high power. The primary factor in the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain during the climb.