Flight Details
The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight, having taken off to the north with 100 gallons of chemical. The airplane reached an altitude of about 30 feet above the ground when a loss of engine power occurred.
Engine Power Loss
The pilot reported that the engine may have backfired three to four times. The airplane began to lose altitude. In response, the pilot set the mixture to rich, dropped part of the chemical load, and operated the throttle, which seemed to help.
Forced Landing
The pilot decided to land the airplane on a road just north of the airport. While lining up with the road, he observed a car approaching. He then chose to land in an adjacent plowed field. During the landing, the airplane touched down on three points, struck a terrace, which tore the engine off, nosed over, tore the stabilizers off, uprighted, and came to a stop.
Post-Accident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed no anomaly.