What happened
During the initial climb phase following departure from Everett-Paine Field Airport, a twin-engine aircraft encountered significant difficulties. The aircraft was unable to maintain sufficient altitude and subsequently entered a stall.
The impact of the crash resulted in a total of seven fatalities and two injuries. The incident occurred shortly after takeoff as the crew attempted to climb away from the airfield.
Findings
Investigations into the accident identified several critical factors that led to the loss of control. The primary cause was determined to be a stall during the initial climb, which was driven by inadequate preflight preparation by the pilot.
Additional contributing factors included:
- Accumulation of ice and snow on the wings and tail surfaces prior to takeoff
- Presence of airframe ice
- Improper loading of the aircraft
- The total weight exceeded the maximum gross weight by 1,000 lbs
- The Center of Gravity (CofG) was positioned 1.59 inches behind the aft limit