LAX84LA237

Factual narrative

WHILE WAITING FOR FOG TO 'BURN OFF,' THE PLT PREFLIGHTED THE ACFT & THEN WAITED FOR ABOUT 45 MIN AT THE END OF THE RWY. HE THEN DECIDED TO TAKEOFF WHILE THE WX WAS STILL IMC. SHORTLY AFTER LIFT-OFF, THE ACFT ENTERED INSTRUMENT CONDITIONS & BEGAN TURNING TO THE LEFT. THE PLT STATED, 'ABOUT THE TIME I WAS STARTING TO GET THINGS SORTED OUT, THE TREES APPEARED OUT OF THE FOG.' HE PULLED BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT THE ACFT HIT TREES & CRASHED. THE PLT STATED THAT HIS DECISION TO TAKEOFF IN IMC WAS INFLUENCED BY HIS WIFE'S FAILING ABILITY TO COPE WITH THEIR SEPARATION DURING HIS NEW JOB & HIS BOSS'S EXPLICIT INSTRUCTIONS THAT HE DIDN'T WANT ANYONE LATE OR OFF ON THAT DAY. ALSO, THE PLT FELT A NEED TO PROVE TO EVERYONE THAT AN ACFT COULD BE DEPENDABLE TRANSPORTATION. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12