The Canadian Aviation Safety Board investigated this occurrence for the purpose of advancing aviation safety. It is not the object of the Board to determine or apportion any blame or liability.

AVIATION OCCURRENCE REPORT ARROW AIR INC. DOUGLAS DC-8-63 N950JW GANDER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, NEWFOUNDLAND 12 DECEMBER 1985 REPORT NUMBER 85-H50902

The aircraft was on an international charter flight from Cairo, Egypt to Fort Campbell, U.S.A., with planned stops at Cologne, Germany and Gander, Newfoundland. During take-off from Gander, the aircraft crashed and burned approximately one-half mile off the departure end of runway 22. All 256 passengers and crew sustained fatal injuries.

The Canadian Aviation Safety Board was unable to determine the exact sequence of events which led to this accident. The Board believes, however, that the weight of evidence supports the conclusion that, shortly after lift-off, the aircraft experienced an increase in drag and reduction in lift which resulted in a stall at low altitude from which recovery was not possible. The most probable cause of the stall was determined to be ice contamination on the leading edge and upper surface of the wing. Other possible factors such as a loss of thrust from the number four engine and inappropriate take-off reference speeds may have compounded the effects of the contamination.

28 October 1988