What happened
The pilot was conducting an agricultural swath run when debris entered the cockpit, temporarily obstructing his vision. In response to the impaired visibility, the pilot initiated a climb maneuver. During this ascent, the aircraft collided with tree tops. Following the collision, the pilot dumped the chemical load and executed a landing on a nearby road adjacent to the field being sprayed. The aircraft traveled off the end of the road, striking fence posts and trees before coming to rest inverted. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the collision. Examination of the site confirmed that debris had entered the cockpit during the operation. The mechanical condition of the aircraft prior to the incident was consistent with normal operation for agricultural spraying duties.
Findings
Contributing factors included the presence of debris in the cockpit which temporarily blinded the pilot and the subsequent loss of control during the climb phase. The collision with tree tops resulted in structural failure of the airframe.