What happened
During a ferry flight conducted with the number four engine shut down, the aircraft experienced an issue during its takeoff roll. Upon reaching V1 speed, an overheat warning light illuminated for the number two engine. The flight crew responded by slightly reducing the throttle on that engine while continuing the takeoff sequence. Shortly after the aircraft became airborne, the pilot initiated an aborted takeoff.
Despite the attempt to stop, the aircraft failed to remain on the runway. The plane traveled past the departure end of the runway, eventually colliding with a construction site, approach lighting systems, and various antennas approximately 1,180 feet beyond the runway threshold. The accident resulted in one fatality and one serious injury.
Findings
Investigations into the three active engines showed no signs of mechanical malfunction or failure. However, investigators identified a failed resistor within the electronic engine control (EEC) for the number two engine. This component failure caused the unit to provide an excessive amount of fuel to the engine, leading to higher operating temperatures. While reducing the throttle can bring fuel flow back to manageable levels, the sequence of events led to the loss of control on the runway. The failed resistor in the EEC was the primary factor causing the overheat indication.