What happened
Following a recent maintenance inspection, a DHC-6 aircraft departed on its first flight. During the takeoff roll on runway 19L, observers noted that the flaps were in the full down position. Shortly after liftoff, the aircraft entered an extremely steep climb, reaching a pitch attitude of approximately 60 degrees. As the plane reached an altitude between 200 and 500 feet, it experienced a stall and began a nose-down descent while executing a left turn. The aircraft impacted the ground roughly 2000 feet beyond the runway and 300 feet to the left of the centerline. The pilot, who was the only person on board, was killed in the crash.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical errors regarding aircraft configuration and pilot performance. Post-accident examination confirmed that the flaps remained in the full down position, a setting that is explicitly prohibited for takeoff according to the flight manual; the manual instead prescribes a 10-degree setting. Additionally, evidence indicated that the flight control lock may have been engaged during the takeoff phase, restricting necessary control movements. The investigation also noted that the pilot's checklist was found at the beginning of the takeoff sequence, suggesting it was not properly utilized. Contributing factors included the failure to adjust the flaps, inattention to procedures, and the failure to remove the gust lock.