From what I can discern, it does indeed look like an issue with file permissions. Everything else in your logs looks entirely normal.
Just to test; if you took ownership of the install directory (and sub-folders) and gave full R/W access to "Everyone", will the server still crash immediately?
There's another super-secret forum section dedicated to the VIP version, duplicitously hidden right in the middle of the forum's homepage.
Alternatively accessible here: [ Super Secret VIP Link ]