What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
A representative from Air Tractor was on the scene and concluded from his past experience that the aircraft was maneuvering to make a turn, and during this maneuver, the pilot stalled the aircraft. He also stated that at the end of a spray pass, the pilot will climb 300-500 feet, put in 10 degrees of flaps to slow the aircraft and be able to initiate a quicker and tighter turn. Verification was made that the flap jack screw was extended. During this maneuver, while making a left turn, the aircraft stalled, descended with a slight downward pitch, impacting the ground left wing first. The accident scene was contained in a small area suggesting the aircraft descended almost vertically. After impact, the aircraft caught fire and was destroyed.
As the FAA filed it
A REPRESENTATIVE FROM AIR TRACTOR WAS ON THE SCENE AND CONCLUDED FROM HIS PAST EXPERIENCE THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS MANEUVERING TO MAKE A TURN, AND DURING THIS MANEUVER, THE PILOT STALLED THE AIRCRAFT. HE ALSO STATED THAT AT THE END OF A SPRAY PASS, THE PILOT WILL CLIMB 300-500 FEET, PUT IN 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS TO SLOW THE AIRCRAFT AND BE ABLE TO INITIATE A QUICKER AND TIGHTER TURN. VERIFICATION WAS MADE THAT THE FLAP JACK SCREW WAS EXTENDED. DURING THIS MANEUVER, WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN, THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, DESCENDED WITH A SLIGHT DOWNWARD PITCH, IMPACTING THE GROUND LEFT WING FIRST. THE ACCIDENT SCENE WAS CONTAINED IN A SMALL AREA SUGGESTING THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED ALMOST VERTICALLY. AFTER IMPACT, THE AIRCRAFT CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.