Final Report: Pilot distracted and disoriented at night

Hawker Beechcraft King Air A100, Chino, Calif., Nov. 6, 2007–The NTSB blamed the crash of the King Air A100 on “the pilot’s failure to maintain a positive climb rate during an instrument takeoff.” A contributing factor to the accident was low visibility. On takeoff in calm conditions with quarter-mile visibility in fog with a ceiling of 100 feet, the IFR flight made a slight turn to the left and then descended, hitting treetops about three-quarters of a mile from the runway. A witness reported hearing the crash and seeing the airplane’s right wing strike the ground and burst into flames. Subsequent inspection of the wreckage revealed no mechanical problems. Both the commercial instrument-rated pilot and passenger were killed.