What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Aircraft crashed while turning during aerial application. (.4)while conducting aerial spraying over rolling terrain, the pilot experienced a violent nose down motion of the airplane, followed by the airplane going into a left wing down attitude. He recovered from the left wing down attitude, but experienced a right wing and nose down situation. The airplane struck the rolling terrain with the right wing, which subsequently resulted in extensive damage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies or operational problems prior to impact. He believed that he may have encountered a windshear condition. About 21 miles west (at north platte), the wind was from 180 degrees at 10 gusting 17 knots.
As the FAA filed it
AIRCRAFT CRASHED WHILE TURNING DURING AERIAL APPLICATION. (.4)WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL SPRAYING OVER ROLLING TERRAIN, THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A VIOLENT NOSE DOWN MOTION OF THE AIRPLANE, FOLLOWED BY THE AIRPLANE GOING INTO A LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE. HE RECOVERED FROM THE LEFT WING DOWN ATTITUDE, BUT EXPERIENCED A RIGHT WING AND NOSE DOWN SITUATION. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE ROLLING TERRAIN WITH THE RIGHT WING, WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY RESULTED IN EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES OR OPERATIONAL PROBLEMS PRIOR TO IMPACT. HE BELIEVED THAT HE MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED A WINDSHEAR CONDITION. ABOUT 21 MILES WEST (AT NORTH PLATTE), THE WIND WAS FROM 180 DEGREES AT 10 GUSTING 17 KNOTS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.