What happened
During the takeoff roll from Runway 35 at Sioux City Airport, Iowa, at approximately 07:11 local time, the aircraft experienced a sudden and severe right-hand roll. The flight crew was aware that ice had accumulated on the wings prior to departure. After liftoff, as the first officer moved the landing gear to the up position and the captain began deactivating the landing and taxi lights, the plane rolled violently to a bank angle estimated at 90 degrees.
In an effort to stabilize the aircraft, the captain increased engine power and applied left rudder. When these actions failed to produce an immediate correction, the pilot utilized left aileron input. While this caused the right wing to rise, the roll continued until the left wing struck the runway surface. The pilot aborted the takeoff attempt approximately 110 feet past the departure threshold of Runway 35. Although the crew managed to level the wings before final contact with the ground, the aircraft eventually came to a stop in a grove of trees roughly 1,181 feet beyond the end of the runway.
The accident resulted in no fatalities among the 64 passengers and four crewmembers. However, the impact caused significant damage, leaving the aircraft destroyed with no fire reported. Among those on board, 10 passengers were admitted to the hospital with minor injuries, and three crew members sustained serious injuries.
Findings
Investigations concluded that the accident was caused by a stall occurring near the upper limits of ground effect. This loss of control was driven by the aerodynamic and weight penalties associated with airfoil icing. The investigation determined that the flight crew did not ensure the ice was removed from the wings before attempting takeoff. Additionally, it was found that the crew utilized an inappropriate amount of takeoff thrust for the aircraft's specific gross weight at the time of departure.