What happened
On the evening of the accident, an aircraft was taxiing for an intersection takeoff from runway 29. At the time, winds were reported from 230 to 280 degrees at 24 knots, with nearby workmen noting scattered rain showers of moderate intensity in the area.
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft drifted off the right side of the runway, creating a large cloud of dust. While witnesses initially attributed the dust to propeller wash or wind gusts, the aircraft exhibited a pronounced crab to the left into the wind immediately after liftoff. The pilot and tower controller exchanged remarks regarding the rough weather conditions as the aircraft flew away.
Following the event, the aircraft was located two days later. There were 4 occupants on board, consisting of the pilot and three passengers. At the time of the accident, only the two front seats were installed in the aircraft; the rear seats had been removed and were recovered from the pilot's hangar.
The investigation
A wreckage examination was conducted, and no discrepancies were noted regarding the mechanical condition of the aircraft. The aircraft was certificated in the restricted category for agriculture and pest control operations.