What happened
During the departure phase from the airport, the aircraft was being operated by the second-in-command. As the plane began its takeoff roll, a witness located south of the runway noted the engines increasing in power. Due to dense fog, the observer could only discern the aircraft's strobe lights. The aircraft reached rotation approximately 3,500 feet past the runway end and entered a steep climb. However, the aircraft's altitude dropped to roughly 150 feet above the ground before it disappeared from view. The plane subsequently struck a fence and crashed into the terrain approximately 1,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.
At 0550, local weather reports indicated calm winds with visibility restricted to 0.5 statute miles due to fog. An overcast cloud layer was present at 100 feet, with temperatures and dew points both at 17 degrees Celsius. Cockpit voice recorder data indicated that the flightcrew had frequently discussed the poor visibility, noting it seemed to be less than one mile.
Findings
An inspection of the engines and airframe showed no mechanical failures or irregularities. The investigation highlighted the potential for somatogravic illusion during takeoff in instrument meteorological conditions. This phenomenon occurs when rapid acceleration stimulates the otolith organs, creating a false sensation of a nose-up pitch. In the absence of clear visual references, such illusions can lead a pilot to inadvertently push the aircraft into a dive.