What happened
During the takeoff ground roll, the pilot of a Cessna aircraft experienced a sudden 90-degree crosswind gust that caused a momentary loss of directional control. Although the pilot recovered control and continued the takeoff, a second and stronger crosswind gust occurred immediately after lift-off. This gust pushed the aircraft to the right toward a line of telephone poles running parallel to the runway.
In an attempt to avoid the poles, the pilot tried to dump the aircraft's load of chemicals. However, the jettison mechanism momentarily jammed, preventing the load from being fully released. The right wing of the aircraft subsequently collided with a telephone pole, shearing it off. Following this impact, the aircraft crashed into an adjacent Santa Fe railroad right of way. The pilot was not injured.
The pilot estimated steady-state crosswinds of 10 knots with gusts reaching 20 knots. According to estimates from Cessna Aircraft, the maximum crosswind component capability for this aircraft type is 13 knots. This accident occurred during the third load of the day.