What happened
On a morning characterized by light snow and freezing temperatures, Palair Macedonian Airlines flight PMK301 was preparing for departure from Skopje Airport in North Macedonia. The aircraft, a Fokker 100, had arrived from Frankfurt with a delay. The flight crew consisted of a pilot-in-command from the aircraft's lessor, AFT, providing route training to a captain-under-training who was acting as the pilot flying.
During the pre-flight inspections, the Flying Station Engineer and ground handling personnel noted snow on the inner flap of the right wing. However, the engineer determined that de-icing was unnecessary, believing any accumulation would be cleared by aerodynamic forces during the takeoff roll. While a different aircraft was being de-iced on the apron, snowfall increased to moderate levels.
At 11:11, the flight was cleared for takeoff with visibility reported at 900 meters. The aircraft rotated normally and the landing gear was retracted. Within two seconds of liftoff, the aircraft encountered intense vibrations and a series of violent oscillations, banking sharply to the right and then to the left. Flight data and recordings indicate that the autopilot disconnected and the GPWS issued sink rate warnings shortly before the crash. The right wingtip struck the ground approximately 382 meters past the runway threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to break into three main sections, with the right engine and stabilizer separating from the airframe. The crash resulted in 83 fatalities among the 97 people on board.
Findings
- The aircraft's wing leading edges were inspected and found to be wet, but the engineer decided against de-icing despite snow being present on the inner flap.
- The decision to forgo de-icing despite increasing snowfall and existing snow on the wing surfaces was a critical factor in the accident.