Accident Overview
On a local night training flight at Atlantic City Airport, the crew was approaching the runway for a landing. As the aircraft descended on final approach, the pilot-in-command decided to abort the landing and initiated a go-around. However, during this maneuver, the aircraft lost height and struck the ground in flames short of the runway threshold. The impact destroyed the airplane, and all four crew members aboard suffered serious injuries.
Engine Configuration
Investigators determined the engine power settings at the time of the accident. Both left engines, designated number 1 and number 2, were producing full power. In contrast, both right engines, number 3 and number 4, were set to idle power. This asymmetry in engine thrust may have influenced the aircraft's performance during the go-around.
Official Probable Cause
The official finding states that the probable cause of the accident was a stall. The crew attempted a go-around at an insufficient airspeed while on short final. This resulted in a stall condition, causing the aircraft to lose control and crash.