Accident Overview
A pilot initiated a forced landing following a total loss of engine power while conducting aerial application flights. The aircraft was found upside down in a cotton field by a land owner, who called 911. The pilot was not wearing a seat belt or shoulder harness.
Investigation Findings
Examination revealed a fractured throttle cable caused by excessive wear and fatigue cracking. The cable's fractured area was located within the cable housing, making it inaccessible for inspection. The aircraft, manufactured in 1965, had accumulated 10,001.96 hours of operation. No evidence indicated that the throttle cable had ever been replaced.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported feeling nauseated during the mid-afternoon flights but continued the mission. The aircraft was a 1965 model, with no record of throttle cable replacement throughout its operational history.
Medical Findings
Autopsy results determined that the pilot's cause of death was acute thrombosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery, complicated by multiple injuries sustained in the accident. The pathologists also reported evidence of compressional asphyxia.