What happened
The pilot reported that he had been operating off an unpaved strip throughout the day as ambient temperatures climbed to 101 degrees Fahrenheit. During his final takeoff attempt of the day, he determined that the chemical load carried was excessive for the prevailing atmospheric conditions. He estimated the density altitude at 4000 feet.
To reduce weight, the pilot dumped a portion of the chemical payload while airborne. Despite this action, the aircraft failed to gain sufficient lift and settled back onto the ground. The aircraft then continued forward, crossing over two electric fences before coming to rest with damage sustained to the airframe.
The investigation
No mechanical examination was reported in the source material. The investigation focused on the environmental conditions and the pilot's operational decisions regarding weight and balance.
Findings
The primary factors contributing to the accident were the high ambient temperature and the resulting density altitude, which degraded aircraft performance. The excessive chemical load further reduced the aircraft's ability to climb out of the ground effect or clear obstacles. The decision to dump the load was made too late in the takeoff roll to prevent the ground contact.
Safety message
Pilots operating agricultural aircraft in high-temperature conditions must carefully calculate density altitude and ensure that the total weight, including chemical loads, remains within performance limits for safe takeoff.