Overview
During agricultural operations, an airplane was loaded by a helper who was not supervised and was unfamiliar with the aircraft's weight limitations. The helper filled the hopper to capacity, resulting in a load that exceeded the maximum gross weight. The pilot did not verify the load before takeoff and did not perform a weight and balance calculation.
Sequence of Events
After takeoff, during the initial climb, the airplane failed to establish a normal climb rate. Recognizing the abnormal performance, the pilot decided to land in a cultivated field. Upon touchdown, the main landing gear sank into soft earth, causing the airplane to nose over into an inverted position.
Findings
The hopper had been filled to the top by the unsupervised helper, leading to an overload condition. The pilot's pre-takeoff checks did not include verifying the weight or computing weight and balance. The excessive weight prevented a normal climb and necessitated the off-airport landing, where the soft ground contributed to the nose-over.