What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Operator was in the process of aerial application of a "roundup" chemical herbicide on a field approximately 1/2 mile north of Malden, Missouri race track. Aircraft had been exiting the field over a tree line. Pilot reported a downward gust of wind slowed his ascent and the aircraft hit the top of a tree. The aircraft continued in the same direction into the next field, the aircraft sustained substantial damage upon impact and burned. The pilot's injuries reported at this time was a minor injury to his foot.
As the FAA filed it
OPERATOR WAS IN THE PROCESS OF AERIAL APPLICATION OF A "ROUNDUP" CHEMICAL HERBICIDE ON A FIELD APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE NORTH OF MALDEN, MISSOURI RACE TRACK. AIRCRAFT HAD BEEN EXITING THE FIELD OVER A TREE LINE. PILOT REPORTED A DOWNWARD GUST OF WIND SLOWED HIS ASCENT AND THE AIRCRAFT HIT THE TOP OF A TREE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED IN THE SAME DIRECTION INTO THE NEXT FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE UPON IMPACT AND BURNED. THE PILOT'S INJURIES REPORTED AT THIS TIME WAS A MINOR INJURY TO HIS FOOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.