Summary
The aircraft was engaged on a local sight seeing flight and the gross weight of the aircraft was close to the
maximum permitted. The only previous occasion on which the pilot had flown a fully laden aircraft was during
a check by his instructor on 21st December, 1969 at which time flying conditions were good.
The pilot elected to take-off on the 03 strip into a light north easterly wind. During the take-off the pilot
noticed that the wind had become gusty. When the airspeed had reached about 50 knots the aircraft became
airborne and shortly afterwards the pilot heard the stall warning horn sound. He lowered the nose to increase
speed but soon thereafter he raised the nose of the aircraft to climb, the stall warning horn again sounded and
the aircraft veered and began a turn to the right as the right wing dropped. The pilot attempted to continue the
turn to land back on the aerodrome but, when he believed that he was losing control of the aircraft, he attempted
to level it and reduced power preparatory to letting the aircraft settle in light scrub. The aircraft stalled from
a height of about 25 feet with the right wing striking the ground first.
