Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to distraction by ground equipment in the airplane’s path, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight and resulted in a loss of airplane control.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight and while the airplane was about 10 ft above ground level, he became distracted by ground equipment in the airplane's path, and he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend, which resulted in the right main landing gear descending and the right spray boom descending into the wheat crop. The airplane veered right, descended uncontrollably, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Source record
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that during an agricultural application flight, about 10ft above the ground, he became distracted by ground equipment in the airplane's path, and the airplane's right main landing gear descended into the wheat crop. Subsequently, the right spray boom descended into the wheat crop. The airplane veered right, descended uncontrolled, and collided with the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.