What happened
During a local training operation, an aircraft was transporting 43 paratroopers along with a crew of four. As the flight was performing its takeoff roll, the captain observed a cyclist on the runway. In response to this obstacle, the pilot chose to initiate rotation earlier than planned.
While the aircraft successfully left the ground, it failed to reach the necessary velocity for sustained flight. This lack of airspeed caused the plane to enter a stall, leading to a crash. The accident resulted in 46 fatalities and one serious injury among the paratroopers and crew members present on board.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to rotate early to avoid an obstacle on the runway led to insufficient airspeed during the initial climb phase.