On February 16, 1984, a Piper PA-25-150 (registration N6090Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Altus, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's distraction while visually checking the chemical hopper resulted in misjudging his clearance above the field. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural aircraft crashed in a wheat field after the pilot became distracted while checking chemical levels. The aircraft was destroyed by fire, and the pilot died from burn injuries on March 13, 1984.
Accident Overview
An agricultural aircraft crashed into a wheat field that was being sprayed, according to the operator. The aircraft was subsequently destroyed by a post-crash fire. The pilot sustained severe burns and succumbed to his injuries on March 13, 1984.
Operational Sequence
The operator reported that the pilot was at the end of a swath run when he glanced into the cockpit to visually check how much chemical remained in the hopper. This distraction reportedly caused the pilot to misjudge his clearance above the field, leading to the collision with the ground.
Aftermath
The aircraft was destroyed by the fire that followed the crash. No other injuries or damage were reported. The incident occurred in a wheat field that was actively being sprayed at the time.
Probable cause
The pilot's distraction while visually checking the chemical hopper resulted in misjudging his clearance above the field.