What happened
During the initial climb phase of flight, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, an engine on the aircraft experienced an explosion and subsequent fire. This mechanical failure occurred just moments after the plane had departed from the runway. The loss of power led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to descend into a prairie area situated roughly 720 meters beyond the end of the runway.
The accident resulted in 42 fatalities, comprising all 3 crew members and 39 passengers on board.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary factor in the crash was an engine explosion occurring at a critical stage of flight immediately following liftoff. This event triggered the loss of airspeed and the subsequent stall. While the sequence leading to the engine failure has been identified, the specific underlying reason for the explosion has not yet been determined.