What happened
The pilot was conducting a maintenance flight intended to clean the spray boom of an agricultural aircraft. To accomplish this, he flew down the centerline of the airstrip while dispensing a cleaning substance through the nozzles. After completing one pass along the strip, he initiated a pull-up maneuver to the right.
According to the pilot's account, he subsequently turned back to the left and reduced engine power in preparation for landing in the opposite direction. Observing that the aircraft was drifting toward an overshoot of the runway, he tightened his turn to correct the flight path. The aircraft stalled while it was less than 100 feet above ground level. The pilot was unable to recover altitude before the aircraft impacted the ground. The impact occurred in an upright attitude, causing damage to the airframe. A fire subsequently erupted following the collision, resulting in the total destruction of the aircraft.
Findings
The primary factor leading to the accident was the loss of control due to a stall during a low-altitude maneuver. The pilot's decision to tighten the turn while reducing power at an altitude below 100 feet left insufficient energy and height for recovery.