On July 12, 1984, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N6484Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Peetz, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an overhead wire during a crop dusting pass, despite having conducted a ground survey of the area prior to flight. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural aircraft collided with an overhead ground wire while conducting insect control spraying near farm buildings, resulting in a crash landing.
What happened
The pilot had completed a series of spraying operations around farm buildings for the purpose of insect control. Following this initial phase, the pilot began a first pass through the adjacent crop area. During this run, observers noted that the aircraft pulled up as it approached power lines at the end of the swath. However, instead of clearing the obstruction, the aircraft collided with an overhead ground wire located at the top of a multi-wire array. The impact caused the aircraft to lose control, leading to a collision with the ground during uncontrolled flight.
The investigation
Prior to the flight, the pilot had performed a ground survey of the area. This pre-flight inspection was intended to identify potential hazards in the operating environment. Despite this preparatory step, the aircraft failed to clear the overhead infrastructure during the low-level agricultural operation.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from an overhead wire during a crop dusting pass, despite having conducted a ground survey of the area prior to flight.