What happened
At 17:23, the aircraft was cleared for a local VFR flight from Runway 25R. During the takeoff roll at approximately 17:25, the aircraft became airborne near the intersection of Runway 25R and Runway 22-4. At this moment, the pilot lost control of the plane as the right wing dipped and struck the ground. While the aircraft was roughly 15 to 20 feet in the air, the tail rose while the right wing remained low. The plane then veered right, cartwheeled over its nose, and landed upside down. A fire subsequently ignited in the front section of the fuselage.
Emergency responders arrived within minutes to extinguish the flames. The incident resulted in one fatality and two injuries, including one person who sustained serious burns and another who suffered minor injuries. The crew members on board included the pilot, the co-pilot, and a company chief inspector occupying the jump seat.
At the time of the accident, the aircraft's gross weight was 21,203 pounds, which was under the maximum allowed limit of 25,346 pounds, and the center of gravity was within approved limits. Meteorological conditions were favorable, featuring good visibility, an unlimited ceiling, and a southwest wind at 10 mph.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the primary cause of the accident was the reversed installation of aileron control cables and pulleys. During a previous overhaul, the control cables were incorrectly connected. The inspection department failed to identify this mechanical error during their oversight process. These improper connections led to the loss of lateral control during the takeoff phase.