Incident Overview
Description
An IAI 1124 Westwind air ambulance plane crashed on takeoff from Panama City-Tocumen International Airport (PTY), killing all six on board and one person on the ground. The aircraft was transporting two Italian patients from Quito, Ecuador for medical treatment to Washington and Milan. A refueling stop was made in Panama. After refueling, the airplane was started and taxied to runway 3L. After lifting off the runway it reportedly pitched up vertically, the nose then lowered, and the wings rocked side to side. The airplane veered right with a 90-degree bank and impacted the ground on taxiway Hotel. The right wing and right engine separated from the fuselage. The airplane rolled onto its back, collapsing the vertical stabilizer. The main fuselage, left wing, and left engine continued across a grass field, where it struck an airport worker, and impacted a concrete wall. The airplane continued through the wall, and came to rest inverted inside an empty building – the former Evergreen International hangar. PROBABLE CAUSE The Investigative Board determined that the probable cause of the accident was the loss of control during takeoff due to the lack of criteria and decision-making by the flight crew, not having followed the procedures established by the operator, aggravated by a center of gravity beyond the rear limit.
Primary Cause
Loss of control during takeoff due to inadequate procedures and decision-making by the flight crew.Loss of control during takeoff due to inadequate procedures and decision-making by the flight crew.Share on:
