Flight Details
The pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight, departing to the north from a private concrete airstrip. The airplane was loaded with 400 gallons of fungicide and contained 110 gallons of fuel on board.
Accident Sequence
Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane began to settle back toward the runway. The pilot attempted to dump the fungicide, but the airplane settled into a soybean field and nosed over.
Wreckage and Examination
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, wings, and engine firewall. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies.
Weather Information
The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 12 miles north of the accident site, reported winds from 170 degrees at 6 knots, and a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, about the time of the accident.