What happened
A pilot was conducting aerial spraying operations over cotton crops when the aircraft crashed at the edge of an open field bordered by a treeline. A witness residing nearby reported hearing the airplane's engine cut off immediately before the impact occurred.
The aircraft was found in an inverted position at the site. The wreckage path included a series of slash-type ground scars in the dirt and grass leading to the final resting position.
The investigation
Examination of the aircraft revealed that an approximately 8-inch area on the leading edge of the left wing, located about 3 feet inboard of the wing tip, was crushed from the leading edge back to the spar. This damage included accordion-type deformation of the wing skin and damage to the spar.
Investigators found a freshly broken tree limb, approximately 5 inches in diameter, on the ground between the treeline and the wreckage. One tree within the treeline exhibited a fresh break approximately 60 feet above the ground; this specific tree appeared to protrude further into the field than the rest of the treeline.
An examination of the airframe and engine showed no evidence of mechanical malfunction. The propeller remained attached to the engine, though each blade exhibited twist deformation, s-shaped bending, chordwise scratches, and loss of paint along the leading edge and camber side.