What happened
During the initial climb phase immediately following departure from runway 17, the aircraft experienced a bird strike involving a sparrowhawk. This impact resulted in the failure of the left engine. As the engine failure occurred, the autofeather system was triggered to manage the propeller state.
The flight continued for approximately 79 seconds after the engine malfunction. During this period, the aircraft entered a left bank and subsequently impacted a corn field. The impact resulted in the total loss of the aircraft, which was determined to be damaged beyond repair. Among the occupants on board, three passengers sustained serious injuries, while the remaining 40 individuals were not harmed.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified that the pilot failed to adhere to established engine-out procedures while operating under instrument meteorological conditions. This lack of procedural compliance led to a loss of airspeed, causing the plane to decelerate into an unrecoverable flight state. Additionally, investigators noted that poor cockpit discipline and insufficient coordination between the crew members contributed to the event.