What happened
During the takeoff sequence, the aircraft reached a rotation point approximately 1,500 feet into the takeoff roll, exhibiting an excessive nose-high pitch. The plane became airborne roughly 2,800 feet down the runway. Once airborne, the aircraft continued to pitch upward, reaching an estimated angle between 60° and 90° while maintaining an altitude of approximately 300 to 500 feet.
Following this extreme pitch, the aircraft experienced a right roll of about 20°, which then corrected toward a left bank until it reached a near-vertical orientation. The aircraft subsequently impacted the ground, leading to its destruction via impact forces and a post-crash fire. There were 11 fatalities among the crew members on board.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was triggered by a loss of pitch control. This mechanical failure occurred because an asphalt-covered object became lodged between the right elevator's leading edge and the right horizontal spar web access door located in the rear stabilizer.
While the physical obstruction caused the flight control restriction, investigators also noted contributing human factors. The crew failed to identify the issue in time to abort the takeoff roll. Furthermore, a lack of responsiveness to the unfolding emergency and the captain's insufficient monitoring of the takeoff parameters prevented a successful rejection of the takeoff.