What happened
Shortly after departing the airport, the aircraft type struck the ground. Evidence from the wreckage site, including the distribution of debris and ground scars, suggested the plane hit the terrain at a high airspeed and a low angle-of-attack. At the moment of impact, the engines were running at a high power setting, and the landing gear and flaps remained in the extended position. Based on the wreckage location and the direction of the crash, the impact occurred within approximately one to two minutes of takeoff.
Findings
An investigation into the airframe and engines found no evidence of mechanical failure or system malfunctions. However, the aircraft was not configured correctly for a climb; according to the manufacturer's manual, the landing gear and flaps should have been retracted once a climb profile was established. The extended landing gear and flaps significantly reduced the aircraft's ability to climb effectively.
Regarding the pilot, while toxicology reports showed the presence of azacyclonol and ibuprofen, these substances were not present in amounts that would impair flight operations. The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate and had recent experience flying at night. However, the accident occurred at 00:15, a time when the pilot's typical sleep schedule would have had them asleep. While investigators could not confirm the pilot's recent sleep history, pilot fatigue is considered a possible factor, especially as the operator lacked formal fatigue management policies.