Accident Details
Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft was climbing through an altitude between 1,000 and 2,000 feet when it became unstable. It subsequently lost height and crashed in a field located two miles from the departure airfield. The impact produced a huge explosion and the aircraft was totally destroyed. All 39 occupants on board were killed.
Investigation Findings
Multiple eyewitnesses reported observing pieces of the aircraft falling off before it came down. The official investigation established that a component of the right aileron failed, causing the aileron to detach from the wing. This detachment induced severe vibrations. The flight crew attempted to maintain a level attitude, but the aircraft began banking alternately left and right. Eventually, both wings separated from the airframe due to aerodynamic forces exceeding their certified limits. Under these circumstances, aircraft control was impossible.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause, as stated in the investigation, is that following the failure of a part of the right aileron, it detached from the wing, causing severe vibrations. The crew tried to maintain a flat attitude but the aircraft banked left and right and then went into a spin when both wings separated due to aerodynamic forces that exceeded their certification. In such conditions, control was impossible.