Sequence of Events
On the day of the accident, the aircraft was chartered to transport an airline crew of nine persons from Glasgow to Aberdeen. The flight crew consisted of two pilots. The aircraft's take-off weight, as determined, was between 8,320 and 8,600 lb, with a maximum permitted take-off weight of 8,400 lb.
Before taxiing from the business aviation apron, the flight crew obtained an ATC clearance for an IFR departure. The aircraft then taxied for take-off from runway 23, which had a take-off run available of 2,658 metres.
According to survivors, the take-off proceeded normally until shortly after becoming airborne, when a thud or bang was heard. External witnesses observed the aircraft at low height, to the left of the extended runway centerline, in a wings level attitude. The aircraft later developed a right bank and a gentle descent. Witnesses reported hearing an engine spluttering and saw at least one propeller rotating slowly.
A brief emergency radio transmission from the commander was received. The aircraft then entered a steep right turn, followed by a dive. A witness saw the wings level just before the aircraft struck the ground on a northerly track.
Aftermath
Three survivors were helped from the wreckage by a nearby farm worker before flames from a severe post-impact fire engulfed the cabin.
Causal Factors
The official investigation identified the following causal factors: the left engine suffered a catastrophic failure of its accessory gear train, leading to a progressive but complete loss of power; the propeller of the failed engine was not feathered, rendering the aircraft incapable of climbing on the power of one engine alone; the commander feathered the propeller of the right-hand engine, which was mechanically capable of producing power, resulting in a total loss of thrust; the commander attempted to return to the departure airfield but lost control during a right turn.