At about 0557 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff. The airline transport pilot was fatally injured. Instrument conditions prevailed; an IFR flight plan was in effect.
The pilot made initial ATC contact while climbing to the assigned altitude of 3000 feet msl. The pilot was told to reset his transponder and no further communications were received from the accident flight. The wreckage debris field was 793 feet long and 298 feet wide, oriented on a 140-degree heading. All major flight control surfaces and associated counterweights were located in the debris field. The 0554 recorded weather included wind from 040 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 700 feet agl, an overcast at 1700 feet, temperature four degrees C and dew point three degrees C.
