What happened
During an attempted departure from Alexander Hamilton Airport in Christiansted, USVI, an aircraft experienced a catastrophic loss of control shortly after leaving the runway. The flight was carrying 19 passengers and 2 crew members at the time of the accident. Witnesses observed the plane adopt a nose-high pitch immediately following takeoff. This was followed by a series of oscillations, where the aircraft rolled toward the left wing and then the right wing, accompanied by intermittent pitching movements. As the plane lost altitude, it struck the ground while positioned in a right wing-down attitude. The impact resulted in 8 fatalities, including the first officer and seven passengers, while the captain and 12 passengers sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Findings
Investigations into the crash revealed that the aircraft was operating in an unsafe configuration. At the time of takeoff, the plane's gross weight was 1,060 lbs over its maximum allowable takeoff weight of 12,499 lbs. Additionally, the center of gravity was positioned approximately 8 inches past the maximum permitted rear limit. The investigation concluded that these weight and balance issues were caused by improper loading by company personnel. Furthermore, a lack of adequate supervision regarding loading procedures and insufficient oversight by the FAA were identified as contributing factors to the accident.