What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) Pilot was commencing aerial application operations. The pilot reported that the aircraft had 39 gallons of fuel and 104 gallons of chemical. Pilot report shows aircraft was operating under the aircraft gross weight. ASOS weather was calling winds at 5 m.p.h. at 300 degrees, the temperature was 19 degrees celsius. 1/2 mile from the field the pilot began his descent at 90 m.p.h. for his initial spray pass. The pilot began dispensing chemical and began to level off for his spray run. The pilot stated that he felt the wings begin to take the load and then loose lift. He stated that the aircraft continued to descend into the corn field. He was unable to arrest the descent using the elevator. The pilot commented that he felt the accident would have been avoided if he had begun leveling the aircraft sooner.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) PILOT WAS COMMENCING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD 39 GALLONS OF FUEL AND 104 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL. PILOT REPORT SHOWS AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER THE AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT. ASOS WEATHER WAS CALLING WINDS AT 5 M.P.H. AT 300 DEGREES, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 19 DEGREES CELSIUS. 1/2 MILE FROM THE FIELD THE PILOT BEGAN HIS DESCENT AT 90 M.P.H. FOR HIS INITIAL SPRAY PASS. THE PILOT BEGAN DISPENSING CHEMICAL AND BEGAN TO LEVEL OFF FOR HIS SPRAY RUN. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE FELT THE WINGS BEGIN TO TAKE THE LOAD AND THEN LOOSE LIFT. HE STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO DESCEND INTO THE CORN FIELD. HE WAS UNABLE TO ARREST THE DESCENT USING THE ELEVATOR. THE PILOT COMMENTED THAT HE FELT THE ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED IF HE HAD BEGUN LEVELING THE AIRCRAFT SOONER.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.