Accident Overview
An agricultural aircraft stalled during a turn to reverse direction and subsequently impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. The accident occurred during an aerial application flight. Evidence at the site was consistent with a nose-low impact at relatively slow airspeed.
Wreckage Distribution
The main wreckage came to rest upright in an open field approximately 75 feet from the initial point of impact. The radial engine separated from the airframe, while the two-bladed propeller assembly remained attached to the engine crankshaft. Both fuel cells were compromised during the accident sequence.
Post-Accident Observations
An FAA inspector arrived at the accident site within an hour and reported no evidence of fuel or fuel smell. The memory card from the SATLOC system installed in the aircraft was recovered and analyzed, but contained no information pertaining to the accident flight.
Pilot Account
Several attempts were made by the FAA inspector and the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge to interview the pilot after his release from the hospital. The pilot, who had accumulated 16,600 flight hours, reported that he did not have any recollection of the accident or the circumstances prior to the mishap.