No fatalities

2004-02-13: Cessna 414 Chancellor (OE-FRW) — Charter Air — Linz-Hörsching, Austria

Linz-Hörsching, AustriaTakeoff (climb)

On February 13, 2004, a Cessna 414 Chancellor (registration OE-FRW) operated by Charter Air was involved in an aviation accident near Linz-Hörsching, Austria during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The loss of control immediately after liftoff was the consequence of an aircraft contaminated with ice, resulting in an excessive weight, a loss of lift and a consequent stall. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 1781200519Data APIEditorial standards

A twin-engine aircraft on a taxi flight from Linz-Hörsching to Stuttgart experienced loss of control immediately after takeoff, striking the runway and crash landing. One passenger sustained serious injuries; the aircraft was destroyed.

Accident Sequence

The twin-engine aircraft departed Linz-Hörsching Airport on a taxi flight to Stuttgart with five passengers and two pilots. During the takeoff roll on runway 27, at a speed of 105 knots, the crew initiated rotation. Immediately after liftoff, the aircraft adopted a high nose attitude with an excessive angle of attack. It rolled to the left, causing the left gear door and left propeller to strike the runway surface. Shortly thereafter, the right propeller also struck the runway. As the speed decreased, the aircraft stalled and crash landed on the runway, sliding for several dozen meters before coming to rest 2,752 meters past the runway threshold.

Occupants and Injuries

All seven occupants evacuated the aircraft. One passenger suffered serious injuries. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable Cause

According to the official investigation, the loss of control immediately after liftoff was the consequence of an aircraft contaminated with ice, resulting in excessive weight, loss of lift, and a consequent stall. The following factors were identified:

  • Poor flight preparation
  • The crew failed to follow standard operating procedures prior to takeoff
  • The aircraft was not deiced before takeoff, increasing the total weight by 231 kilograms (8% above the maximum takeoff weight)
  • This situation caused the center of gravity to be out of permissible limits
  • Poor judgment on the part of the crew when the undercarriage was lowered