Accident Overview
An agricultural airplane was loaded with approximately 5,000 pounds of fertilizer and three-quarters of a fuel tank. The pilot planned to depart from a private grass airstrip that was about 2,600 feet long. The airplane took off to the north. During the departure, the landing gear impacted a levee at the end of the runway. After the impact, the airplane could not gain altitude, and the pilot executed a forced landing in a field adjacent to the airstrip.
Aircraft Damage
A post-landing examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the fuselage.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that there were no preexisting abnormalities with the airplane before the accident. He stated that a gust of wind or a whirlwind caused the airplane to fail to climb.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the accident, the temperature was 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The wind was from the south at about 5 to 10 knots.
Performance Considerations
Because the wind was from the south and the airplane departed to the north, the departure was downwind. It is likely that the downwind departure degraded the takeoff performance of the heavily loaded airplane.