What happened
During the takeoff phase of flight, an aircraft entered an unstable climb after lifting off at approximately 85 knots. The flight was characterized by immediate buffeting following separation from the runway. As the aircraft ascended, it maintained a nose-high attitude with the left wing low before ultimately striking a rock face in mountainous terrain.
According to testimony from a passenger, the pilot failed to deploy takeoff flaps prior to departure. This maneuver resulted in an airspeed significantly below the required performance parameters for the environment. The impact occurred during the initial climb phase, leading to a collision with the terrain.
Findings
The investigation identified several critical factors contributing to the accident. The primary cause was that the pilot failed to attain the necessary liftoff speed and initiated a premature takeoff. This led to an inadvertent stall during the climb.
Environmental conditions also played a significant role, as the high density altitude at the time of the accident impacted the aircraft's performance capabilities. Specifically, while the aircraft's manual indicates a required climb speed of 103 knots at a density altitude of 6,000 feet with flaps up, the aircraft was operating at insufficient velocity to maintain controlled flight. The accident resulted in one fatality and five injuries among the occupants.