On July 15, 2007, a Grumman G-164B (registration N8449K) operated by Zumwalt Agricultural was involved in an aviation accident near Sheldon, IL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's loss of control during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane colliding with terrain. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An aircraft taking off from a short grass strip with a full load of fuel and chemicals lost control shortly after liftoff, climbing to 500 feet before settling back to the ground and striking a ditch in a bean field.
What happened
The airplane experienced a loss of control during the takeoff phase, ultimately colliding with terrain. The pilot reported that the aircraft was loaded with a full tank of fuel along with a chemical payload at the time of the accident. The takeoff operation commenced from a grass airstrip measuring 2,000 feet in length.
According to the pilot's account, the airplane successfully lifted off the ground and achieved an altitude of approximately 500 feet. Shortly after reaching this height, the aircraft began to settle back toward the surface. Unable to dump the chemical load before impact due to the rapid sequence of events, the airplane descended into a nearby bean field. The aircraft then struck a ditch within the field, resulting in the collision with terrain.
Findings
The investigation highlighted several critical factors contributing to the accident. The primary issue was the loss of control following takeoff. The short length of the grass airstrip and the heavy load of fuel and chemicals likely impacted the aircraft's performance capabilities during the initial climb phase.
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control during takeoff, which resulted in the airplane colliding with terrain.