What happened
While performing aerial application duties, the pilot had sprayed approximately one-half of a soybean field when smoke began to fill the cockpit. In response to the smoke, the pilot immediately shut off the spray system, deactivated the aircraft's electrical system, and opened the fresh air vents.
Upon inspecting the tail section of the aircraft, the pilot observed that the area near the battery was emitting smoke and glowing red. Fearing an in-flight fire, the pilot decided to execute a forced landing. The landing was performed on a curved dirt road. During the maneuver, while attempting to navigate a turn, the right wing of the aircraft struck a dirt bank, causing the plane to veer into a ditch alongside the road. The pilot was not injured.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft following the accident revealed that a battery cable had become corroded and shorted out, which had caused it to begin burning.