NTSB Factual Report

On June 6, 2013, at 1325 central daylight time, a Grumman G164B agricultural airplane, N6754Q, registered to Cassody Flying Service LLC of Covington, Oklahoma, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain shortly after takeoff from Cade's Airport (0OK8), Covington, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Federal Code of Regulations Part 137. The flight originated at 1324 from the Cade's Airport, Covington, Oklahoma.

The pilot stated that he taxied the airplane to the end of the grass runway and performed power checks of the engine and cycled the propeller. He did not notice any malfunctions so he increased the throttle to takeoff power and released the brakes. The airplane accelerated down the grass strip heading south, the tail wheel lifted up, and the airspeed increased. After the main landing gear came up off the runway, the airplane had a constant increase in altitude and airspeed. About 30 feet AGL, the pilot initiated a gentle right turn to the west toward the open cornfield to avoid flying over a house at the end of the runway. After rolling wings level, the airplane felt a little sluggish, which the pilot felt was normal since the airplane was loaded with chemicals. The pilot eased the control stick back to try to gain more altitude and noticed that the airplane was not climbing. A tree line at the end of the cornfield was coming up fast and altitude was steadily decreasing. The pilot checked the engine RPM and manifold gauges and they did not indicate any loss of power. He also stated that there was no audible sound difference in the engine. The pilot then increased the throttle and while looking outside in his peripheral vision, he saw the left wing tip strike the ground, felt a hard bump, and the airplane turned to the left. The pilot then felt the airplane roll wings level, and then saw the right wing strike the ground. After that, the pilot recalls being upside down in the cockpit hanging by his shoulder harness. He released his restraint system and exited the airplane through the cockpit door.

Examination of the engine and airframe after the accident did not reveal anomalies that may have contributed to the accident. The pilot stated that the fuel tanks were topped off prior to the flight and that a full load of chemicals were loaded in the hopper. He also reported that the wind was not a factor, about 5 knots out of the east with no gusts, at the time of takeoff. The temperature was moderate (81 degrees F). The estimated takeoff weight of the airplane was below maximum gross.

A review of the airplane maintenance logbooks for the last 360 days did not have annotations of uncorrected airframe or engine issues prior to the accident flight. the airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed on April 1, 2013.

NTSB Probable Cause

The airplane’s failure to climb after takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations of the engine and airframe did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.