What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(.4)During the initial climb after takeoff, while executing a dark-night departure, the pilot failed to maintain clearance from rising terrain about one and one-quarter mile off the end of the runway. Operator records indicated that the pilot had flown out of this airport in the past, and that the aircraft was approximately 600 pounds below maximum certificated gross weight at the time of departure. A teardown inspection of both engines revealed no pre-impact anomalies, and visual and teardown inspections of the propellers showed damage signatures consistent with ground contact in a flat pitch under significant power.
As the FAA filed it
(.4)DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKEOFF, WHILE EXECUTING A DARK-NIGHT DEPARTURE, THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM RISING TERRAIN ABOUT ONE AND ONE-QUARTER MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY. OPERATOR RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE PILOT HAD FLOWN OUT OF THIS AIRPORT IN THE PAST, AND THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 600 POUNDS BELOW MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE. A TEARDOWN INSPECTION OF BOTH ENGINES REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT ANOMALIES, AND VISUAL AND TEARDOWN INSPECTIONS OF THE PROPELLERS SHOWED DAMAGE SIGNATURES CONSISTENT WITH GROUND CONTACT IN A FLAT PITCH UNDER SIGNIFICANT POWER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.