What happened
The pilot departed with a load of 46-0-0 fertilizer intended for agricultural application. Upon arrival at the target field, the pilot determined that the ground flagger was not in position to guide the operation. Consequently, the pilot initiated a go-around maneuver.
During the turn onto the crosswind leg, which involved a 90-degree change in heading, the aircraft experienced an aerodynamic stall. The pilot attempted to recover from the stall but was unable to regain sufficient altitude or control authority before the aircraft impacted the terrain.
The investigation
Environmental conditions at the time of the incident included winds from 300 degrees at 19 knots with gusts reaching 26 knots. These wind conditions likely contributed to the difficulty in maintaining airspeed and control during the low-altitude maneuver.
Findings
The pilot sustained minor injuries in the accident. The sequence of events indicates that the stall occurred during a critical phase of flight at low altitude, leaving insufficient time for recovery.