Incident Overview
A pilot conducting a crop spraying operation reported that during a turnaround maneuver intended to overfly a line of trees, the aircraft encountered downdrafts. According to the pilot's statement, the aircraft descended into the ground near the trees instead of clearing them. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical problems with the engine or the aircraft during the maneuver.
Wind Conditions
Weather information from a Flight Service Station (FSS) in the area indicated that winds were from the south at 7 to 9 knots at the time of the incident.
Pilot Statement
The pilot explicitly stated that the downdrafts were encountered while executing the turnaround maneuver to spray crops. The pilot further noted that the aircraft descended into the ground near the trees during the turn, rather than flying over them as intended. No mention was made of any injuries, damage, or other factors beyond the described sequence of events.