Accident
On the day of the accident, a twin-engine aircraft was conducting an on-demand taxi flight from Shannon Airport to Geneva, with an intermediate stop in London. The aircraft carried four employees of the Digital Company and one pilot. The takeoff roll began on runway 06 at Shannon Airport under poor weather conditions, with limited visibility due to fog.
After liftoff, the aircraft failed to maintain a positive rate of climb and did not gain sufficient altitude. At a speed of 160 knots, the aircraft pitched down to an angle of 5° and struck the runway surface approximately 1,600 metres from the departure threshold. The impact caused the aircraft to bounce, after which it struck a fence and a stone wall before crashing in flames in a prairie. The aircraft was completely destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire, and all five occupants were killed.
Aircraft and Occupants
The aircraft was a twin-engine airplane. The pilot and four passengers, all employees of the Digital Company, were on board. No further details about the aircraft type or registration were provided in the investigation.
Investigation
The investigation found no technical anomalies with the aircraft, its engines, or its instruments. The weather at the time of the accident was characterised by fog, and the runway visual range (RVR) for runway 06 was measured at 250 metres. This value was below the minimum RVR of 300 metres stipulated in the published procedures of both the company and the airport.
Probable Cause
The official findings stated that the pilot decided to take off in weather conditions below the prescribed minimums, and his experience was considered insufficient, with only 30 flying hours on the aircraft type. The probable cause was determined to be the pilot's decision to take off in below-minimum weather combined with his lack of experience.