Incident Overview
A commercial pilot with 3,600 hours of flight experience was conducting aerial spraying operations for boll weevil eradication in a cotton field. During the flight, the aircraft developed a vibration. Suspecting the spray pump might be about to fail, the pilot decided to perform a precautionary landing on a nearby gravel road.
Landing and Loss of Control
After touching down on the gravel road, the pilot was unable to maintain directional control. The airplane veered off the right side of the road. The right wheel subsequently contacted a dirt embankment, causing the aircraft to turn sharply to the right.
Impact and Final Position
The sharp turn resulted in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The aircraft came to rest upright in a ditch adjacent to the road. At the time of the incident, winds were reported from 140 degrees at 6 knots.
Outcome
The aircraft sustained damage to the landing gear and came to rest off the road. No further details about the aircraft, operator, or occupants were provided in the source.