What happened
The accident occurred during the initial phase of flight at an airport where agricultural operations were being conducted. Ground personnel were responsible for loading fertilizer onto the aircraft prior to departure. The pilot did not independently verify or check the quantity of fertilizer that was loaded by the ground crew.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft exhibited slow acceleration, indicating a potential weight issue or performance deficit. Recognizing the insufficient airspeed gain, the pilot initiated an emergency procedure to reduce the aircraft's weight. The pilot began dumping the fertilizer load while continuing the takeoff roll down the remaining runway.
Despite the weight reduction efforts, the aircraft did not achieve sufficient speed to climb out of the ground effect before reaching the end of the paved surface. The aircraft lifted off just as it reached the runway threshold, cleared a ditch adjacent to the airfield, and then touched down in an adjacent rice field. Upon impact with the uneven terrain of the field, the aircraft nosed over, coming to rest on its nose.
The investigation
Examination of the flight data and physical evidence confirmed that the aircraft was overloaded for the available runway length and atmospheric conditions. The primary factor identified was the excessive weight due to the fertilizer cargo. The pilot's decision to dump the load during the takeoff roll was a valid emergency response, but it occurred too late in the ground roll to prevent the overrun.
Findings
The investigation revealed that the pilot failed to ensure that the aircraft was within its maximum gross weight limits for the specific takeoff conditions. The reliance on ground personnel without independent verification of cargo weight led to a critical performance shortfall during the most energy-intensive phase of flight.