What happened
On a daylight flight in Newfoundland and Labrador, an aircraft departed Gander on Runway 22 carrying the pilot and four passengers. The flight plan included an intermediate stop in Charlottetown to disembark one individual before continuing to Sango Bay. During the initial departure from Gander, radar tracked the plane climbing to 2500 feet before leveling off at 1900 feet while traveling toward its first destination.
After arriving in Charlottetown at 16:15, the aircraft prepared for its subsequent leg to Sango Bay. The pilot initially signaled an intent to use Runway 10 but aborted the takeoff roll mid-runway. Following this, the pilot announced a change in plans to utilize Runway 28. After taxiing to the new runway threshold, the aircraft began its takeoff roll without a full stop. The plane became airborne just before the end of the runway and maintained a low altitude near the tree line. During the climb, intermittent stall warnings were heard. The aircraft failed to clear the nearby hills and struck a road approximately 1.5 nautical miles from the runway exit at an elevation of 440 feet.
Findings
Investigations into the crash identified several critical factors. It was determined that the aircraft was operating above its maximum allowable takeoff weight for both segments of the journey, as the pilot had failed to perform necessary weight and balance computations. This excess weight significantly degraded performance. Additionally, the pilot did not employ appropriate short-field takeoff procedures, which prevented the aircraft from reaching a sufficient airspeed for a safe climb. The flight also failed to maintain the optimal angle of climb speed. Furthermore, unsecured cargo within the cabin was found displaced, specifically near the rear passenger seat, which likely increased the severity of injuries sustained by that occupant. The accident resulted in 5 fatalities.