What happened
While performing agricultural spraying operations, the pilot of the aircraft was ferrying back to the airport when smoke began entering the cockpit. Under the belief that an onboard fire was occurring, the pilot reduced power and executed a landing in a cornfield. The pilot was not injured.
Following the accident, the aircraft owner spoke with the pilot regarding the event. The owner noted that the aircraft is equipped with a 'smoker,' which is a device used to determine wind drift. According to the owner, activating this equipment produces a distinct smell of smoke. During discussions, the pilot indicated that he may have accidentally bumped the switch for the smoker while preparing for landing.