What happened
The aircraft departed from an airport with a departure altitude (DA) of 1950 feet but lost altitude during the initial climb phase. Witnesses reported that the plane settled as if the pilot had raised the flaps after takeoff. During a right turn, the aircraft continued to lose altitude and ultimately crashed into a field on a turkey farm located approximately one mile south of the airport.
The investigation
A subsequent examination of the accident site and records revealed critical loading errors. The aircraft was found to be 264 pounds overweight at the time of departure. Furthermore, the center of gravity (CG) exceeded the aft limit, which severely compromised the aircraft's stability and controllability during the critical takeoff and initial climb phases.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the overweight condition and the center of gravity exceeding limits. These loading errors prevented the pilot from maintaining adequate altitude after takeoff. The aircraft was unable to sustain flight, leading to the crash in the adjacent field.