What happened
During a ferry flight from a remote lodge, a twin engine turboprop attempted to depart from a narrow, 1,000-foot airstrip. The aircraft had recently undergone repairs to its nose wheel assembly following damage sustained on a prior flight. The pilot, who was experienced with the airstrip but not with this specific aircraft type, taxied the length of the runway, stopping several times during a 20-minute engine run-up.
As the aircraft began its southbound takeoff, it maintained the centerline but failed to achieve liftoff until reaching the very end of the runway. Shortly after leaving the ground, the landing gear struck vegetation, including trees and shrubs approximately 6 to 7 feet in height. This impact caused the aircraft to veer sharply to the right. The aircraft continued through a wooded area, striking multiple trees before ultimately crashing into a shallow lake. The wreckage came to rest in approximately 5 feet of water, roughly 300 feet from the shoreline. The impact was severe enough that the entire forward section of the cockpit was severed from the airframe.
Findings
Investigation of the wreckage was significantly hindered by the extensive structural damage to the cockpit and airframe, making it impossible to verify instrument readings or flap configurations. While performance data suggested a required takeoff distance of approximately 950 feet, the aircraft did not rotate until the runway was nearly exhausted. Evidence indicated that the left engine remained operational and produced enough power to strike trees during the descent. However, inspections of the right engine were inconclusive, as the engine could not be tested at full power due to the ingestion of foreign objects during a test stand run.