Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the spray rig which sprayed chemicals into the pilot's eyes temporarily blinding him.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
While spraying a flooded field, the spray rig failed and sprayed chemicals into the pilot's face, temporarily blinding him. The aircraft descended and hit a fence, flipped several times, and came to rest inverted.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 12, 1993, at approximately 0930 central daylight time, a Grumman G-164A, N9680, struck a fence while conducting aerial application near Kaplan, Louisiana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The flight, which departed Kaplan at 0930, was operating under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. According to the pilot, he was spraying flooded rice fields when the spray rig failed and sprayed pesticide in his face. Unable to see, the aircraft descended, hit a fence, flipped several times, and came to rest upside down. -