Departure and Initial Climb
The pilot and passenger were departing from runway 22, a 3,568-foot-long asphalt runway. According to witnesses, the airplane did not become airborne until the last third of the runway. The airplane's nose was pitched up higher than usual, and it cleared the airport boundary fence by only 5 to 10 feet. After reaching an altitude of about 30 feet, the airplane stopped climbing. The pilot realized that he would not clear trees located at the end of a soybean field beyond the runway.
Forced Landing and Overturn
The pilot attempted to land in the soybean field; however, the airplane flipped over during the landing.
Weight and Balance
A weight and balance calculation performed after the accident revealed that the airplane was about 100 pounds above its maximum gross takeoff weight.
Runway and Environmental Conditions
The runway sloped upward approximately 30 feet between the respective touchdown zones of runways 22 and 4. The weather reported at an airport about 10 miles west of the accident site included calm winds, a temperature of 86°F, and a dew point of 68°F, which corresponded with a density altitude of about 3,000 feet. The pilot reported that the airplane's outside air temperature gauge indicated 33.1°C (91°F).
Aircraft Information
The airplane was equipped with a 108-horsepower engine. No further details about the aircraft make or model were provided.