What happened
The aircraft was engaged in a specialized agricultural mission to spray for mosquito control during the hours of darkness. While operating under low-visibility conditions, the pilot initiated a maneuver to reverse course. During this turn, the pilot activated the aircraft's landing lights with the specific intent of visually assessing altitude relative to the ground.
Despite the use of auxiliary lighting, the pilot observed power lines in the flight path but determined that it was too late to execute any evasive action. The propeller subsequently impacted the power lines, causing an immediate loss of engine power. Following this mechanical failure, the pilot executed an emergency landing straight ahead in a nearby pasture.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact and the subsequent forced landing. Key observations included the timing of the landing light activation relative to the course reversal and the proximity of utility infrastructure to the flight path during nighttime operations.