Overview
An aerial application aircraft collided with terrain during a spraying operation. The pilot was applying Roundup RT on a flax field where kochia weeds stood about 4 feet tall and the flax measured between 18 and 20 inches in height. This was the second load being sprayed on the same field.
Sequence of Events
The pilot had been dropping flags to mark the spot where he turned on the chemicals. While flying over wires, he noticed what he thought was a flag directly in line with his pass. The pilot uses a Satloc GPS marking system with a light bar mounted between the chemical tank and the fuel tank. According to the pilot, if the spray is turned on after being turned off while on the same pass, the GPS light bar blinks to indicate that the airplane is on a pass that has already been sprayed.
During the pass, the pilot looked at the light bar, which was blinking. At that moment, he felt the airplane lurch as the wheels touched either the weeds or the flax crop. Simultaneously, the chemical in the tank sloshed out of the top and covered the windshield.
Pilot's Actions
The pilot reported that he kept the nose of the airplane up, and the airplane settled into the field. No further details about injuries, damage, or emergency response were provided in the source.
No probable cause has been determined by the investigation.