Incident Overview
A pilot was conducting aerial spraying operations over lettuce fields on a dark night. According to the pilot, the wind was blowing from the north-northwest with gusts up to 12 knots. During a turn-around maneuver over a plowed field, the wind kicked up dust, which the pilot said affected his visibility and depth perception. Subsequently, a wing of the aircraft dragged along the ground, and the aircraft crashed.
Pilot Account
The pilot reported that the primary reason he was not injured was that he was wearing a safety helmet and had his safety harness tightly fastened. No other details regarding injuries or damage to the aircraft were provided in the report.
Environmental Conditions
The operation took place at night over agricultural fields. The wind conditions were described as north-northwest at an unspecified base speed with gusts to 12 knots. The presence of loose dust in the plowed field contributed to degraded visual conditions during the critical turning phase of the flight.
Conclusion
The accident was attributed to the pilot's loss of visual reference due to wind-blown dust, resulting in a loss of altitude and ground contact. No probable cause was officially stated in the source material beyond the pilot's narrative.