What happened
During an agricultural spraying operation, a witness observed the aircraft begin a climb at the conclusion of a spray run across the field. The aircraft subsequently entered an abrupt right bank while in a nose-high attitude, followed by a dive toward the terrain. The impact resulted in a post-impact fire that consumed the airplane.
The wreckage orientation suggested the pilot was performing a course reversal turn to return to the field for another spray pass at the time of the accident. The pilot, an airline pilot, had been conducting part-time agricultural operations for five years and had approximately 200 hours of experience in this specific aircraft type. This flight marked the pilot's first time spraying this particular field.
No unusual meteorological phenomena were reported by the nearest weather station or observed by witnesses at the scene.
The investigation
An examination of the wreckage confirmed that all major components were present at the accident site. However, due to extensive fragmentation and thermal damage caused by the fire, investigators could not establish flight control continuity. The pattern of the wreckage and ground scars was consistent with the aircraft impacting the terrain in a nose-low, nearly vertical attitude.