What happened
During the takeoff roll at Santo Domingo-Las Américas Airport, the aircraft began its rotation under the control of the copilot. However, the plane failed to respond as expected during this phase. As the aircraft began to veer toward the left and skid, the captain intervened to take control of the flight.
In an attempt to manage the situation, the crew initiated an aborted takeoff. During this process, the aircraft experienced lateral oscillations, rolling from left to right. This movement caused the right wing to make contact with the ground. The impact was severe enough to tear engines number 3 and 4 from the right side of the airframe.
Following the impact, the aircraft lost directional control and veered off the right side of the runway. The landing gear was lost during the excursion, and the aircraft eventually came to a stop, at which point it caught fire. Despite the destruction of the aircraft, all three crew members managed to escape the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
- The aircraft failed to respond properly during the rotation phase.
- The right wing struck the ground during lateral rolling motions during the aborted takeoff.