Accident Overview
A twin-engine aircraft operating a local skydiving mission crashed after taking off from Hohenems-Dornbirn Airport. The aircraft was carrying 23 skydivers and one pilot.
Sequence of Events
After departure from runway 05, while climbing to a height of about 50 metres, the pilot encountered difficulties in gaining altitude and elected to make an emergency landing. During this attempt, the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft subsequently stalled and crashed in an open field located 500 metres from the runway end.
Injuries and Damage
Four occupants, including the pilot, were injured. All 20 other occupants escaped uninjured. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable Cause
The official findings state that it is possible that the aircraft was operated beyond its maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) permissible limit.