Accident Overview
The accident occurred shortly after a night takeoff from runway 12. During initial climb, the aircraft rolled to the right, entered an uncontrolled descent, and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean a few hundred meters offshore. The aircraft was destroyed on impact, resulting in the deaths of all 12 occupants.
Flight Sequence
The copilot was preparing for the flight when the captain arrived late in the cockpit. The crew then expedited the departure. After takeoff, while climbing at night, the aircraft unexpectedly rolled to the right. It subsequently lost control and descended rapidly into the ocean.
Probable Cause
The official investigation determined that the accident resulted from a combination of factors: the crew suffered spatial disorientation during initial climb; the operator lacked effective systems for monitoring and training personnel; there were deficiencies in instruction; poor crew coordination was present; the crew likely failed to follow the pre-takeoff checklist; the crew had insufficient experience on the aircraft type; and the mission involved inadequate assessment of certain operational aspects along with the use of non-standard piloting practices.