[citation needed] The aircraft was fitted with supplemental type certificate (STC) kits to add an enlarged baggage compartment, a strengthened cargo net, and shoulder harnesses.

In 2010, it was sent to Recon Air Corporation in Geraldton, Ontario, and fitted with a Garrett TPE-33-10R turboprop engine under a Texas Turbine Conversions, Inc. STC, along with three other STCs: a Baron short takeoff and landing (STOL) kit; a pulse light control system; and extended-range fuel tanks.

[1]: 7 At the time of the accident, the aircraft was being operated by Rediske Air of Nikiski, Alaska, on a commercial charter flight to Bear Mountain Lodge, about 90 mi (140 km) southwest of Soldotna.

[1]: 5  According to the United States' Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local law enforcement officials, the aircraft "struck the runway and burned" shortly after takeoff from Soldotna Airport, before 11:20 a.m. AKDT (19:20 UTC), killing all 10 people on board.

[3][4] In addition to the pilot, the crash killed nine people from two families visiting Alaska from Greenville, South Carolina.

An intense post-crash fire consumed most of the aircraft's cockpit and cabin, destroying an unknown quantity of cargo and baggage.

The NTSB concluded that this condition would have caused the aircraft to pitch up on takeoff and enter an unrecoverable stall even if the pilot immediately applied full nose-down elevator.

A contributing factor was the operator's failure to require weight and balance documentation for each flight in accordance with FAA regulations.