What happened
The incident occurred during a night departure from runway 35. Shortly after leaving the ground, the Skytrain experienced difficulties in gaining altitude. While climbing at an approximate height of 30 feet, the aircraft struck treetops located 0.9 miles from the end of the runway. The impact caused the plane to stall and crash into a wooded area situated near the shore of the Missouri River. As a result of the accident, 23 occupants were killed and one passenger sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigators determined that both engines suffered a sudden loss of power during the initial climb phase. The primary contributing factor was identified as non-compliant spark plugs, which did not adhere to the engine manufacturer's procedures. Additionally, experts noted that a sudden increase in oil consumption led to excessive dilution of the fluid, further compromising engine performance.