On August 7, 1986, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration N7121Z) operated by Riggin Spray Service was involved in an aviation accident near Clear Lake, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power line during the flare-out phase of an agricultural approach, which resulted in the aircraft striking the obstacle and the sunflower crop below. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 1 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A pilot suffered serious burn injuries after his aircraft struck a power line and sunflower crop during the flare-out phase of an agricultural spraying approach.
What happened
The accident occurred while the aircraft was engaged in agricultural treatment operations at an airfield. According to the pilot's report, the flight path for the entry into the swath run intersected with a power line that spanned across the approach to the field. During the flare-out maneuver intended to transition from cruise to landing speed, the pilot determined that the aircraft had descended too low relative to the obstacle.
Consequently, the main wheels of the aircraft made contact with a sunflower crop situated near the runway threshold. This initial impact triggered a fire during the subsequent crash sequence. The force of the collision and the resulting blaze led to serious burn injuries sustained by the pilot.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power line during the flare-out phase of an agricultural approach, which resulted in the aircraft striking the obstacle and the sunflower crop below.