Incident Overview
A skydiving flight carrying the pilot and 21 jumpers took off to the north on a wet grass runway. During the initial takeoff climb, the aircraft assumed a very steep angle of attack, as reported by jumpers. They described the pilot winding a wheel on the lower right side of the chair clockwise, frantically, and being busy with a wheel between the seats. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and terrain approximately 250 yards east of the runway.
Pilot and Environmental Factors
The pilot reported that the airplane flew through a dust devil and did not have enough altitude for a complete recovery. Winds were stated as northerly at 6 to 8 knots with extreme turbulence. However, the nearest weather observation facility reported clear skies with calm wind.
Weight and Balance Discrepancies
The takeoff weight and center of gravity (CG) were calculated at 9,118.05 lbs and 161.92 inches. The Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) listed the maximum gross weight at 8,000 pounds and the aft CG limit at 152.2 inches. The AFM contained a warning: "C. G. POSITION OF THE LOADED AIRCRAFT MUST BE CHECKED AND VERIFIED PRIOR TO TAKE-OFF, AND APPROPRIATE TRIM SETTINGS SHOULD BE USED; OTHERWISE ABNORMAL STICK FORCES AND POSITIONS MAY RESULT." The elevator trim wheel is located on the righthand side of the pilot's seat.
Passenger Configuration
Post-accident examination revealed 16 seatbelts in the cabin section and 2 seatbelts in the cockpit. A placard installed in the cockpit stated, in part, "THIS AIRPLANE IS LIMITED TO THE OPERATION OF NINE PASSENGERS OR LESS." Regarding the discrepancy between the placarded 9 passenger limit and the 21 jumpers aboard, the pilot stated that parachute jumpers are not considered to be passengers and therefore, he did not have to comply with the placarded limit.