Accident Overview
A certificated commercial pilot was operating an accident airplane during a departure from runway 31. The pilot had loaded approximately 300 gallons of diesel fuel into the airplane's hopper tank. During the climb, about 75 feet above the runway, the pilot reported that the engine began to lose power. Emergency engine procedures were attempted but did not restore power.
Sequence of Events
The airplane subsequently landed back on the runway, approximately 100 feet from the threshold. It continued off the end of the runway and collided with a stand of trees. A witness reported that the engine appeared to be operating normally as the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the runway, after which it eventually settled back onto the runway.
Weight Assessment
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, in conjunction with the accident pilot, estimated the gross weight of the accident airplane during the accident flight to be approximately 700 pounds over the maximum allowable gross weight.