Accident Details
The pilot departed an airstrip carrying 57 gallons of Fyfanon, a chemical used for boll weevil spraying. After completing a series of spray runs, the airplane veered off course, collided with a tree line, then impacted the ground and caught fire.
DGPS Information
A review of the airplane's maintenance records revealed that the Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS) installed on the airplane had been serviced twice during the week preceding the accident. The DGPS unit was mounted on a shelf behind the pilot's seat, near the point where the shoulder harness is attached. Under the conditions of the spraying contract, the DGPS was required to be operational for the flight.
Last Recorded Data
Data downloaded from the DGPS indicated that the lock on the system was lost shortly after the pilot completed a right turn on the southeast side of the field. The accident site was located one and a half miles northwest of the location where the last DGPS signal was received.