Accident Details
At liftoff from McGrath Airport, the aircraft experienced a loss of control, collided with trees, and caught fire. The crash resulted in the deaths of one crew member and four passengers. Several other individuals sustained serious injuries. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was conducting fire control activities between McGrath and Galena.
Investigation Findings
The official probable cause of the accident was determined to be a loss of control caused by diverted attention from the operation of the aircraft. Contributing factors included a collision with high obstructions and fire after impact. According to reports, the pilot rotated the aircraft at V2 speed and subsequently reduced engine power when the copilot raised the landing gear. It was observed that the right main landing gear was still in contact with the ground when retracted, causing the propeller to strike the runway surface.