Accident
Shortly after takeoff from Batagay Airport, while climbing to a height of about 50 metres, the aircraft nosed up. Rather than reducing engine power, the captain asked the passengers to come to the front of the cabin. The aircraft then rolled to the left, stalled, and crashed 80 metres to the left of the runway. The aircraft was destroyed. Seven passengers were killed, and 12 other occupants were injured.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation determined the probable cause of the accident. The aircraft stalled during initial climb due to a combination of factors. The crew failed to prepare the flight according to published procedures. No mass and balance sheet was calculated prior to departure. Four passengers were not mentioned on the passenger manifest. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was 503 kilograms above maximum takeoff weight (MTOW). The center of gravity (CG) was 5.2% above the rear permissible limit.