What happened
During a takeoff attempt at Kodiak, a twin engine airplane encountered heavy fog that significantly reduced visibility. While the aircraft was accelerating down the runway, the pilot observed another aircraft entering the active runway area. To prevent a collision, the pilot performed an immediate rotation by pulling back on the control column.
This maneuver caused the aircraft to lift off before reaching the necessary velocity for safe flight. Because the plane had not attained sufficient airspeed, it entered a stall shortly after takeoff. The aircraft subsequently crashed into a lake located just beyond the runway threshold. Although the impact resulted in the aircraft being damaged beyond repair, all seven occupants managed to exit the wreckage without any injuries.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several contributing factors related to both environmental conditions and pilot actions:
- The presence of an unidentified hazard on the runway caused the pilot to execute an evasive maneuver.
- An 80-foot rise in elevation at the middle of the runway obstructed the pilot's view of a taxiing aircraft.
- The sudden rotation led to a premature liftoff before the plane reached flying speed.
- Dense fog created extremely poor visibility during the takeoff roll.