What happened
The incident occurred during a scheduled agricultural operation when the aircraft failed to gain sufficient lift during the takeoff roll. Instead of climbing, the plane continued down the runway and exited at the departure end. It traveled through uncut wheat fields until it struck a shallow washout and a small embankment, which caused the aircraft to flip over. No witnesses were available to provide additional accounts of the event.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage and the engine components to determine the cause of the power loss. They found fuel present in the tanks, ruling out fuel exhaustion as an immediate factor. Control positions were verified: the throttle was approximately one-quarter open, the mixture was set to rich, and the propeller control was full forward. Both magneto and battery switches were in the on position.
Physical evidence included wheat straw on the main landing gear struts and tailwheel spring, confirming the path through the field. One propeller blade showed bending and light scratches parallel to its leading edge, consistent with ground contact. The other two blades were intact. An engine teardown revealed the critical issue: the points in the right magneto were dwell closed and would not open. These points were also burned and corroded. No other mechanical discrepancies were found.
Findings
The primary factor was the failure of the right magneto due to stuck, corroded points. This resulted in a loss of engine power during the critical takeoff phase. The aircraft's inability to climb led to the runway overrun and subsequent collision with terrain features.