What happened
During the climb phase, the pilot in command increased the aircraft's pitch. At this time, a flight attendant entered the cockpit to request a faster rate of climb to facilitate cabin service. During this period, the autopilot was engaged in pitch and heading modes, which was a violation of established company procedures. The pilot in command and the flight attendant engaged in an unrelated conversation for approximately 4.5 minutes while the first officer focused on completing log entries.
While operating in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) at 17,400 feet, the aircraft type experienced a stall. The crew attempted an initial recovery, but the aircraft reached 6,700 feet before the first officer lowered the landing gear. Due to an improper recovery technique, a second stall occurred, with the aircraft stabilizing at 5,500 feet. During the sequence, the left engine cowling separated and the left propeller lost three blades, necessitating the shutdown of the left engine during the descent.
Unable to maintain level flight, the crew performed a forced landing at a closed airport. During the final approach, the pilot in command overshot the final turn due to issues with controllability. The aircraft touched down with high speed, leaving only 1,880 feet of wet runway remaining. The aircraft subsequently hydroplaned off the runway, resulting in further damage.
Findings
Investigations revealed that the crew had received limited sleep during a three-day trip, despite the availability of rest periods. Environmental conditions included a freezing level near 11,500 feet and cloud tops reaching 21,000 feet, with icing potential up to 19,000 feet. No mechanical malfunctions were identified prior to the accident. The primary contributing factor was unauthorized autopilot settings and cockpit distractions during the climb.