[HerrBlucher]

It was a twin too, though an old one. Will be interesting to hear about the cause. Sad story, RIP.

[Myrddin]

I stopped at single engine, fixed gear. Multiple engines and retractable gear add an extra dimension to the piloting task. I've had an opportunity to sit in the cockpit of the P3 during taxi/takeoff. That is an amazing sight with the extra equipment necessary to monitor the turbine temperatures/pressures/RPM and prop pitch. Steering the nose wheel with the "tiller" and having to achieve sufficient airspeed to attain "rudder command" is very different from steering the nose wheel with the brake pedals on a typical tricycle gear.

More telling is the report of heavy fog. I'm surprised they aircraft was cleared for takeoff under those conditions. As a VFR pilot, I recall the minimum acceptable being around 3,000 ft AGL. "Scud running" i.e. dodging clouds was considered poor practice. The FAA regularly sent a newsletter detailing accidents and their causes.

[the long march]

Cause will be pilot error (aka stupidity)