Piper PA 25-235 N6803Z accident near Arlington, Wisconsin

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to establish proper airspeed and angle-of-attack during takeoff with the airplane at its maximum gross weight in elevated density altitude and gusting tailwind conditions, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot reported that he was conducting an agricultural application flight with the airplane at its maximum gross takeoff weight. He added that, after taking off toward the west, the airplane settled into a cornfield. He stated that there were no failures or malfunctions with the airplane preceding the accident, that the engine was running "fine," and that there were no flight control anomalies at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the prevailing wind was from the east gusting to 18 knots, which resulted in a gusting tailwind during the takeoff.

The density altitude was calculated to be about 3,000 ft. It is likely that the combined effects of the airplane operating at its maximum gross weight, the elevated density altitude, and the gusting tailwind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne at an airspeed that could not be maintained outside of ground effect. The pilot subsequently failed to maintain the proper angle-of-attack as he attempted to climb the airplane out of ground effect, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN16LA255 for the full record.