Primary finding
Probable cause
The power loss for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The aerial application pilot was making a swath run, and was maneuvering to see if the field needed more spraying when the engine lost power. The pilot reported that during the landing roll the right main landing gear struck a canal gate, separating it from the fuselage causing structural damage. A witness observed the airplane's right main landing gear strike a pickup truck. No anomalies were found with the engine and the cause of the power loss could not be determined.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 4, 1994, at 1610 mountain daylight time, a Thrush S-2R, N4890X, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Clint, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he had completed a swath run, and was maneuvering to see if the field needed more spraying when the engine lost power. While landing on highway 80 the pilot had to lift the left wing to avoid striking a vehicle. During the landing roll the right main landing gear struck a canal gate, separating it from the fuselage causing structural damage. The airplane came to rest in a shallow ditch with one propeller blade bent and the left wing tip damaged. According to a local official, a witness reported the right main landing gear struck a pickup truck. The pickup truck's roof was torn off, and one of the its four passengers received minor injuries. An examination of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed no mechanical anomalies that could have caused the loss of power. -