Primary finding
Probable cause
The inadvertent stall while executing the turn to reverse direction during an aerial application flight.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
According to an FAA inspector, the pilot reported to him that while executing the turn to reverse direction during an aerial application flight 'the aircraft wouldn't roll out of turn and began descending into a pasture left wing down at full power.' the airplane impacted the ground in a left wing low attitude. Post accident examination of the aircraft wreckage did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal flight.
Source record
Factual narrative
On May 15, 1995, at 1252 central daylight time, a Fairchild F-23A, N1133Z, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control while maneuvering near Ozark, Arkansas. 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 while executing a turn to reverse direction for a second pass, control was lost and "the aircraft wouldn't roll out of turn and began to descend into a pasture left wing down at full power." Post accident examination of the aircraft wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed damage to the engine mount, propeller, and left wing. No anomalies were found during the examination that would have prevented normal operation. Despite numerous attempts, a completed NTSB Form 6120.1/2 was never received from either the pilot or the operator. -