What happened
During a personal cross-country flight, a turbofan-powered airplane entered a steep left bank, estimated by witnesses to be approximately 90 degrees, shortly after departing. As the aircraft attempted to roll out of this turn, the nose remained level with or below the horizon before dropping, leading to a ground impact. Flight track records indicated that the aircraft's ground speed began to decline immediately after takeoff, dropping from a peak of 141 knots to 100 knots at the final recorded data point. At the time of the accident, environmental conditions included a light tailwind.
Findings
Investigation into the flight parameters revealed that the aircraft's indicated airspeed was likely between 86 and 93 knots during the maneuver. Given that the stall speed for this turbofan-powered airplane was calculated at 100 knots for a 45-degree bank and 118 knots for a 60-degree bank, the aircraft was operating below safe limits. The investigation determined that the pilot failed to fully advance the power levers during takeoff and the initial climb, preventing the aircraft from attaining or maintaining necessary airspeed.
Evidence from the engines showed no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have prevented normal operation. Both engines showed signs of debris ingestion and rotation-related wear, suggesting they were producing power at the moment of impact. Furthermore, the lack of a FADEC logic trend snapshot, which requires the throttles to be moved to the maximum takeoff detent, supports the conclusion that the power settings were insufficient. This lack of power led to the aircraft exceeding its critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.