What happened
During an aerial application mission, a part 137 aircraft was performing a spray pass over a field. While descending over a treeline on a southbound heading, the pilot encountered moderate turbulence. The pilot reported that approximately 70 gallons of chemical remained in the tanks at the time of the incident. Following the encounter with turbulence, the pilot was unable to arrest the descent before the aircraft made contact with the corn crop. The aircraft continued its descent, resulting in the nose impacting the ground before skidding to a stop.
Findings
At the time of the accident, weather conditions included winds from the south at 9 knots, gusting to 14 knots, and a temperature of 88 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane prior to the impact with the terrain.