Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's misjudged clearance from obstacles during aerial application, resulting in a collision with trees. A factor in this accident was the pilot's lack of total experience in aerial application flying.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot was on his third day of aerial application flying. His total aerial application experience consisted of 5 hours, including the accident flight. Total flight time in type and model was approximately 7 hours. The pilot was observed flying several application runs prior to the accident. The airplane was observed flying under power lines during one of the runs. During the pull up, at the completion of the accident run, a witness observed the airplane's right wing strike a tree. The airplane staggered, then nosed over and impacted the ground.
Source record
Factual narrative
On Tuesday, June 1, 1993, at about 1150 eastern daylight time, a Cessna 188, N8254G, operated by Fisher's Agricultural Service, of Cardington, Ohio, struck trees and impacted the ground, while performing aerial application, near Marengo, Ohio. The airplane was substantially damaged by the impact. The pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan had not been filed for the flight operating under 14 CFR 137. According to a Federal Aviation Inspector, the pilot was maneuvering over a field while performing aerial application when the airplane struck a tree and impacted the ground inverted. -