What happened
During a scheduled check flight following maintenance work, an aircraft was performing a climb shortly after departing Goose Bay Airport. Approximately two minutes into the flight, the crew attempted to extend the flaps. During this maneuver, the aircraft experienced a stall and the left wing separated from its root. The loss of structural integrity caused the plane to enter an uncontrollable dive, impacting the ground. There were three fatalities among the crew, which consisted of two pilots and one mechanic.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor was a sudden and unplanned full retraction of the flaps. This event caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch downward abruptly. The resulting aerodynamic loads placed on the wing exceeded its structural design limits, leading to the separation of the left wing. The detached wing subsequently struck the tail section, making the crash inevitable.