What happened
During the initial stages of the takeoff roll, the flight crew failed to maintain proper alignment with the runway centerline. As the aircraft proceeded down the runway, the left main landing gear made contact with a snow-covered shoulder area adjacent to the paved surface. This impact caused a significant reduction in the aircraft's forward velocity.
Despite the loss of speed, the crew continued with the takeoff sequence rather than initiating an aborted takeoff. Consequently, the aircraft reached rotation speed too late to safely clear obstacles. Following liftoff, the aircraft collided with an ILS antenna and subsequently performed a crash landing. The momentum of the event caused the plane to enter a ditch before coming to a final stop.
Findings
- The primary factor in the accident was the failure to abort the takeoff after the aircraft drifted off the runway centerline.
- The presence of snow on the runway shoulder contributed to the loss of control when the gear made contact with the unpaved surface.
There were 0 fatalities and 0 injuries among the 65 occupants on board. While all passengers and crew evacuated the aircraft without harm, the airframe sustained damage that rendered it a total loss.