Incident Overview
An agricultural aircraft completing its second spray pass of the morning suffered an unexpected engine failure. The pilot, confronted with a sudden loss of power, initiated a forced landing into a wheat field.
Forced Landing and Post-Crash Events
Upon touchdown in the soft field, the aircraft nosed over. After exiting the cockpit, the pilot attempted to extinguish a small fire that had ignited on the engine, but was unsuccessful. The fire subsequently consumed the entire aircraft.
Investigation Findings
An FAA inspector examined the wreckage and found no mechanical discrepancies with the aircraft. Based on the circumstances, the inspector believed that carburetor icing conditions had been encountered by the pilot.