What happened
Approximately 10 minutes after departure, smoke was observed coming from the area where the flight was performing agricultural spraying operations. An investigation of the crash site by an FAA inspector determined that the aircraft had entered a stall while the pilot was reversing course. During this maneuver, the aircraft impacted a tree located approximately 25 feet above the ground.
The impact caused the left wing and landing gear to separate from the airframe. Following the collision with the tree, the aircraft nosed down and struck the ground, coming to rest in an inverted position. A post-crash fire subsequently erupted, which completely destroyed the aircraft. The pilot sustained injuries during the accident and died seven days later.
The investigation
An FAA inspector conducted a post-crash examination of both the aircraft and the engine. This inspection revealed no evidence of any mechanical failure or malfunction occurring prior to the crash.