Accident Overview
An airplane impacted terrain shortly after departing from an airport. The wreckage distribution indicated a high airspeed, low angle-of-attack impact. Examination of the ground scars and debris showed that the landing gear was down, the flaps were extended, and the engines were operating at a high power setting at the time of impact.
Mechanical Examination
A thorough examination of the airframe, engines, and related systems revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures. The aircraft's systems were functional and did not contribute to the accident.
Aircraft Configuration
According to the owner’s manual for the airplane, the flaps should have been retracted and the landing gear should have been brought up as soon as a climb profile was established. The extended landing gear and flaps degraded the climb performance of the airplane. Based on the location of the wreckage, the direction of the impact, and the proximity to the airport, it is likely that the airplane crashed within one to two minutes after takeoff.
Pilot Information
The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate and had recent night flight experience. Toxicological tests were positive for azacyclonol and ibuprofen, but the levels were not sufficient to have affected his performance. According to family members, the pilot normally slept from 2230 or 2300 to 0700; the accident occurred at 0015. The investigation was unable to determine how long the pilot had been awake before the accident or his sleep schedule in the three days prior. However, it is possible that the pilot was fatigued, as the accident occurred at a time when he normally would have been asleep.
Company Policies
The company did not have, and was not required to have, guidance or a policy addressing fatigue management.