Accident Overview
An agricultural airplane was substantially damaged when it struck trees and was subsequently consumed by a post-crash ground fire. The pilot reported that prior to the accident, he circled the corn field twice to check for obstructions. He then initiated his spray run by entering the field over the northwest corner, heading east.
Pilot Actions
During the run, the pilot stated he was "watching trees on the right, then left" and when he looked forward, he "misjudged the distance of the tree line at the end of the field." The aircraft then struck tree tops, and the pilot "could not regain control of the aircraft" before it settled into the trees.
Pilot's Assessment
In his accident report, the pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by identifying all obstructions surrounding and within the spray area and using better judgement before entering the area.
Damage
The aircraft sustained substantial damage from the impact and the subsequent fire.