What happened
During a scheduled cargo operation traveling from Detroit to Wilmington, an aircraft departed from runway 21L. At the time of departure, the plane was loaded near its maximum allowable gross weight of 48,000 pounds, specifically weighing approximately 20 pounds under that limit.
As the flight crew initiated the climb, the aircraft reached an altitude of roughly 200 feet when the crew experienced significant vibrations. The aircraft subsequently entered a stall and impacted a field situated 2,050 feet beyond the runway threshold. Following the impact, the plane slid for approximately 448 feet, during which time both wings were partially severed. While the two pilots managed to evacuate the wreckage, the aircraft was a total loss.
Findings
The investigation concluded that the crash was caused by a loss of lift during the takeoff phase. This aerodynamic failure was attributed to ice accumulation on the airframe. Specifically, investigators found that the wings retained a 3 mm layer of ice because the deicing procedures performed prior to departure were insufficient and the preflight inspection failed to identify the buildup.