Loading Incident
While loading a patient and personal gear for an air ambulance flight, the aircraft tipped onto its tail. The tail bumper was forced upward into the belly of the empennage, causing damage. The pilot declined an offer to have a mechanic inspect the damage, remarking, "this has happened before."
Flight and Loss of Control
After takeoff, the pilot radioed the tower reporting a jammed elevator and indicated an intention to return for landing. While maneuvering on a base leg, control of the airplane was lost. Witnesses observed the aircraft crashing with one wing perpendicular to the ground. At the time, another airplane was in the takeoff position on the runway.
Aircraft Configuration and Records
The airplane was configured with a hospital litter/stretcher and an oxygen bottle on the right side of the cabin. There was no record of approval for or installation of the stretcher. Additionally, no weight and balance record existed for the airplane with the stretcher installation.
Fatalities
All three occupants were killed in the accident.