Incident Overview
At the beginning of an aerial application flight, the owner of the airplane reported that the aircraft was loaded with approximately 300 gallons of chemical. After lifting off from a gravel runway, the airplane would not gain altitude. The pilot then flew the airplane in ground effect over a ditch at the end of the runway and continued for a forced landing to an open field.
Attempted Load Jettison
The pilot attempted to jettison the load; however, due to a clogged nozzle, the load could not be dumped. This prevented any reduction in weight during the forced landing approach.
Collision with Terrain
During the landing roll, the airplane collided with the rough terrain. The specific nature of the terrain was not described, but the impact occurred while the aircraft was still moving on the ground.
Post-Incident Inspection
Following the incident, the owner had the engine inspected and reported that there was no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. No other systems were examined for potential issues.
Key Details
- The airplane was loaded with approximately 300 gallons of chemical.
- The takeoff was from a gravel runway.
- The pilot flew in ground effect over a ditch before the forced landing.
- The attempted load jettison failed due to a clogged nozzle.
- The collision occurred during the landing roll in rough terrain.
- No mechanical failure was found in the engine.
The report does not specify the aircraft type, registration, number of occupants, injuries, or any other contextual factors.