What happened
The incident occurred while the pilot was conducting agricultural aviation operations, specifically a swath run over an unfamiliar cornfield. During the descending approach phase, the pilot reported experiencing a "flashing vision of wires," indicating a momentary visual disturbance or illusion regarding overhead obstacles.
In an effort to avoid striking the perceived wires, the pilot pushed the control stick forward aggressively. This maneuver caused the aircraft to contact a corn crop while in a slight nose-down attitude. Following this initial contact, the aircraft turned approximately 90 degrees to the right. During this turn, the left main landing gear struck the ground, bringing the aircraft to an inadvertent stop.
The investigation
The primary factor identified was the pilot's reaction to a visual anomaly during a low-altitude agricultural operation. The decision to push forward on the controls to avoid perceived wires directly resulted in the aircraft descending into the crop canopy and subsequently losing lateral control, leading to the gear contact and stoppage.
Findings
The accident was caused by the pilot's loss of situational awareness due to visual confusion during a low-level flight operation. The subsequent evasion maneuver was inappropriate for the altitude and environment, resulting in structural damage from ground contact.