What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Acft took off and began losing altitude. Load was probably too heavy and dropped the load. (-23) pilot attempted takeoff westbound runway 26. Pilot stated he attempted to rotate after tailwheel lifted, but the aircraft settled back on runway. Pilot attempted second liftoff nearing departure end of runway. Pilot realized he would not liftoff and attempted to jettison load. Aircraft settled back to the ground striking the east edge of gravel road. Aircraft continued across road into mature corn field. Aircraft was damaged substantially. Pilot stated to highway patrol he had 320 gallons of product. Pilot stated to FAA inspector he had 250 gallons of product. Temp was approx 84 f. lt. and variable wind. Density altitude appears to have been a factor as well as weight and balance. Pilot was loaded to 5895# at takeoff.
As the FAA filed it
ACFT TOOK OFF AND BEGAN LOSING ALTITUDE. LOAD WAS PROBABLY TOO HEAVY AND DROPPED THE LOAD. (-23) PILOT ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF WESTBOUND RUNWAY 26. PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO ROTATE AFTER TAILWHEEL LIFTED, BUT THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK ON RUNWAY. PILOT ATTEMPTED SECOND LIFTOFF NEARING DEPARTURE END OF RUNWAY. PILOT REALIZED HE WOULD NOT LIFTOFF AND ATTEMPTED TO JETTISON LOAD. AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND STRIKING THE EAST EDGE OF GRAVEL ROAD. AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ACROSS ROAD INTO MATURE CORN FIELD. AIRCRAFT WAS DAMAGED SUBSTANTIALLY. PILOT STATED TO HIGHWAY PATROL HE HAD 320 GALLONS OF PRODUCT. PILOT STATED TO FAA INSPECTOR HE HAD 250 GALLONS OF PRODUCT. TEMP WAS APPROX 84 F. LT. AND VARIABLE WIND. DENSITY ALTITUDE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A FACTOR AS WELL AS WEIGHT AND BALANCE. PILOT WAS LOADED TO 5895# AT TAKEOFF.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N4443S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.