Incident Overview
After landing, the aircraft was parked on the ramp for approximately 39 minutes to load cargo. During that time, light freezing drizzle was falling, intermittently mixed with ice pellets and snow. The crew checked the aircraft surfaces from the cockpit and entry door, but observed no ice or snow adhering to the tops of the wings, nose section, windshield, or above the door. The captain declined an offer to de-ice, while two other aircraft were being de-iced.
Takeoff and Loss of Control
The takeoff was normal, with an 18° nose-up attitude, until just after lift-off. The aircraft then entered an uncommanded left roll, and both engines experienced compressor stalls. The captain corrected with left aileron and rudder, then began aborting the takeoff.
Abort and Final Positions
The aircraft touched down left of the runway on the tail skid and right wing tip, approximately 5,600 feet from the threshold and on a 070° heading. It then traveled another 2,025 feet in a sweeping right arc, hitting two runway signs, and came to rest heading west with the right pylon bent down.
Investigation Findings
Investigations revealed that a thin layer of ice, estimated at 0.15 inch thick, would have been on the wings, raising the aircraft's stall speed. The aircraft involved was a DC-9-15, and the source notes that when such aircraft stall, engines are susceptible to compressor stalls.
Probable Cause
The official findings list multiple occurrences: Loss of control in flight during takeoff initial climb, with findings including weather conditions (rain, snow, icing), dark night light condition, wing ice, ice/frost removal not performed by the pilot in command, visual/aural detection by the pilot in command, and inadvertent stall by the pilot in command. A second occurrence involved loss of engine power (total, nonmechanical) during takeoff initial climb, with the aborted takeoff initiated by the pilot in command. A third occurrence was an in-flight collision with terrain/water during takeoff. A fourth occurrence was an on-ground/water collision with an object during other phase.