What happened
During the takeoff roll of a twin-turbofan aircraft, the pilot initiated a rotation attempt at 103 knots. However, the nose landing gear failed to lift from the runway surface. As the airspeed reached 120 knots, the pilot decided to abort the takeoff, reducing engine power to idle and applying maximum braking force. While attempting to stop, the pilot steered the aircraft to the right of the runway centerline to avoid hitting localizer antennas at the departure end of the runway. The aircraft subsequently left the paved surface and collided with two fences before coming to a stop. Post-accident investigation identified tire skid marks extending 1,765 feet along the runway.
Findings
Investigations into the wreckage and runway conditions revealed that the aircraft's braking system was fully functional and showed no signs of pre-existing mechanical failures that would have prevented effective deceleration. However, the elevator trim system was found to be positioned 12 degrees in a nose-down direction. While the aircraft had undergone several heavy maintenance inspections approximately five months before the event, the elevator trim position was noted as a significant factor. The manufacturer's guidelines require specific inspections of the elevator system during certain maintenance phases, and the flight manual instructs pilots to verify that the trim tab position aligns with its indicator during exterior inspections.