NTSB Factual Report

On August 6, 2005, at 1715 central daylight time, a Weatherly 620-B, N6305W, was destroyed by post impact fire after the airplane impacted a power line and trees after a loss of power while departing from runway 17 (3,400 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at Osage Municipal Airport (D02), Osage, Iowa. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight was departing D02 on a local flight. The pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed.

The pilot reported that he had landed at D02 to refuel and take on chemicals. He reported that it was the sixth load of the day, and that the load was identical to the other five loads used previously. He reported that the airplane lifted off from the runway at the same place as the previous takeoffs. He reported that the "aircraft began to lose power about 10 ft. off the ground. There wasn't enough runway left to land so I dumped the load until I was close to the trees." He reported that he impacted the wires and settled into the trees that were located south of runway 17. The airplane impacted the terrain and started to burn. The pilot reported that witnesses rescued him from the burning airplane.

A Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector examined the airplane. He reported that he found tree limbs in the wreckage path that exhibited diagonal cuts and paint transfer marks that were consistent with propeller slashes. Fire damage to the engine precluded an inspection of the engine's ignition and fuel system.

NTSB Probable Cause

The partial loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors were the wires and the trees.