What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Aircraft lost power during aerial application near lewisburg, TN airport. Pilot stated that he had just made an application run and was pulling up when he heard a loud pop and observed flames rolling back from engine. Witnesses substantiate these statements. Engine began backfiring and continued to sputter as pilot attempted to set the aircraft down in a field. The aircraft impacted a tree line approximately 30 yards from touchdown. Damage to aircraft substantial. (.4)the pilot stated that, while on an aerial application run, he heard a loud pop and observed black smoke coming from the engine exhaust. The pilot selected an area for a forced landing. While maneuvering for the landing, the airplane collided with trees. Examination of the engine disclosed that, the number 3 cylinder's exhaust valve was stuck in the open position
As the FAA filed it
(-23) AIRCRAFT LOST POWER DURING AERIAL APPLICATION NEAR LEWISBURG, TN AIRPORT. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD JUST MADE AN APPLICATION RUN AND WAS PULLING UP WHEN HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND OBSERVED FLAMES ROLLING BACK FROM ENGINE. WITNESSES SUBSTANTIATE THESE STATEMENTS. ENGINE BEGAN BACKFIRING AND CONTINUED TO SPUTTER AS PILOT ATTEMPTED TO SET THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN A FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TREE LINE APPROXIMATELY 30 YARDS FROM TOUCHDOWN. DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIAL. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT, WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION RUN, HE HEARD A LOUD POP AND OBSERVED BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE EXHAUST. THE PILOT SELECTED AN AREA FOR A FORCED LANDING. WHILE MANEUVERING FOR THE LANDING, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DISCLOSED THAT, THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER'S EXHAUST VALVE WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.