What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was conducting an agricultural crop spraying operation. During the flight, the pilot reported encountering significant turbulence while navigating underneath a set of power lines. The aerodynamic disturbance caused the left wing to pitch upward sharply, resulting in the wing striking one of the overhead power lines.
Following the impact, the aircraft entered an uncontrolled left bank. Recognizing the loss of control, the pilot reduced engine power in an attempt to manage the descent. The aircraft subsequently landed in a nearby bean field. Upon impact with the ground, the aircraft struck in a left wing nose-first attitude, sustaining substantial damage.
The investigation
The investigation relied primarily on the pilot's statement regarding the sequence of events. No mechanical failure was identified prior to the external impact with the power line. The structural damage was consistent with the described impact forces from both the power line and the ground contact.