What happened
During the departure phase from Darwin Airport, a four-engine aircraft encountered a bird strike shortly after lifting off from the runway. The impact resulted in the immediate loss of power to one of the engines. Following this engine failure, the aircraft entered a stall condition while attempting to climb.
The aircraft subsequently crashed beyond the end of the runway. While there were no fatalities, all 25 occupants on board sustained injuries. The impact caused significant damage to the airframe, rendering the aircraft a total loss.
Findings
Investigations into the accident determined that the primary factor leading to the loss of control was an engine failure triggered by a bird strike during the climb phase.