What happened
The pilot operated an agricultural aircraft for crop dusting duties. On the day of the incident, the aircraft departed fully loaded with both fuel and agricultural chemicals. This configuration placed the gross weight at or slightly above the maximum allowable limit for takeoff.
After traveling approximately three-quarters of a mile from the departure point, the aircraft impacted the ground. The impact occurred immediately following the retraction of the flaps. At the time of the accident, the pilot was in the process of jettisoning the chemical load to reduce weight.
The investigation
Examination of the flight parameters indicated that the initial takeoff was performed with an excessive gross weight. The aircraft's performance was compromised by this overload. The sequence of events suggests that the aircraft struggled to maintain adequate climb performance or control authority while carrying the maximum payload.
The pilot attempted to mitigate the situation by jettisoning the chemicals during flight. However, the decision to take off with such a heavy load appears to have been the primary factor in the inability to complete the departure safely. The timing of the flap retraction coincided with the loss of control or altitude.