The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1535 Eastern time when it impacted a tree, powerlines and the ground shortly after departure from a turf runway. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.
According to several eyewitnesses, the airplane impacted a powerline, turned approximately 90 degrees and impacted the ground in a nose-down attitude. According to the FAA, the grass strip was 1133 feet long and had an approximate one-percent upslope. According to fuel records, 31.2 gallons of aviation fuel were added to the airplane the day of the accident.
