Accident Details
An aerial application aircraft stalled into the ground after a dive and accelerated pull-up. The pilot reported that the steep pull-ups and dives were necessary due to the proximity of the city of Burlington, Colorado. The accident occurred during a cleanup pass when the aircraft was nearly empty of gas and chemical spray.
Sequence of Events
The pilot initiated a dive from approximately 300 ft at a 60-70 degree angle, descending to within 50 ft of the ground before beginning to flare. The indicated airspeed was estimated at 105 knots when the flare started. During the flare, the aircraft shuddered. The pilot noted that during the wing-over turn-around maneuver, the aircraft had not shuddered, and the stall warning did not sound. When the shudder occurred during the pull-out, the pilot released back pressure for a second, and the aircraft impacted the ground in a three-point attitude.
Impact and Damage
The aircraft pancaked hard upon impact and slid for 75 yards. The landing gear collapsed on impact. The ground elevation at the accident site is about 4,178 ft, and the density altitude was calculated to be 7,500 ft. No further details on aircraft damage were provided.
Aircraft and Conditions
The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, engine count, date, operator, or number of occupants. No injuries or fatalities are mentioned. The time of day, weather conditions, and ATC involvement are not stated.