What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was attempting to take off from a provisional strip under adverse weather conditions. Agricultural operations scheduled for the location had been canceled specifically because of high winds, prompting the pilot to ferry the empty aircraft instead of conducting crop dusting or other agricultural duties.
During the takeoff roll, the pilot lost control of the aircraft due to the crosswind conditions. The loss of directional control resulted in a ground loop maneuver. As the aircraft twisted on the runway surface, the right main landing gear collapsed under the stress. The force of the collapse caused the nose of the aircraft to pitch forward and over.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the mechanical condition of the landing gear following the impact. Examination confirmed that the right main landing gear had sustained significant damage consistent with the ground loop and subsequent nose-over event. No other mechanical failures were identified as contributing factors to the loss of control.