Dylan Smith writes:

As I said: never underestimate the power of denial. I don't know the
experience or history of this pilot, but for a moment if we assume he's
taken off with this load and at this density altitude plenty of times.

Or, I assume he probably sensed something wrong on the takeoff run but
felt social pressure to make the flight with has pax. I've always
believed the best pilot has some asshole in him or her: the ability to
say "we're not flying today" regardless of the hopes of others for the
flight.
--
Before I travelled my road I was my road.
--Antonio Porchia, Voces, 1943, translated from Spanish by W.S. Merwin