What happened
The pilot elected to depart eastbound because obstructions at the western end of the strip prevented a westward departure. Wind conditions during the operation were light, ranging from six to eight knots and varying between a right crosswind component and a slight tailwind.
Liftoff was successfully achieved; however, the aircraft began to settle immediately as it climbed out of ground effect. Although the initial descent rate was arrested, the pilot was unable to re-establish a positive climb before the airframe impacted high vegetation located beyond the runway threshold. The aircraft then descended to the ground, touching down on rough terrain.
The investigation
Examination of the flight data and physical evidence revealed that the total weight of the aircraft at the time of departure exceeded the limits established by the manufacturer. This excess weight significantly degraded climb performance.
Findings
The combination of high vegetation and rough terrain caused the aircraft to nose down before it came to a complete stop. The primary factor in the accident was the failure to maintain adequate airspeed and climb gradient due to the overloaded condition.