On July 18, 1988, a Grumman G-164A (registration N677U) operated by Thomas Beeson was involved in an aviation accident near Cape Girardeau, IL. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
While applying chemicals, a pilot circled a radio tower and encountered wake turbulence from his own turn, causing the aircraft to bank, strike guy wires, and execute a forced landing.
Incident Overview
A pilot was applying chemicals to a field bordered by three radio transmission towers. After finishing a swath run, the pilot circled one of the towers and then made a final pass across the end of the field. As he pulled up from the swath run, the aircraft encountered wake turbulence generated by the 360-degree turn he had just completed around the tower.
Collision with Wires
The wake turbulence caused the aircraft to bank to the right, leading to a collision with two of the upper guy wires supporting the transmission towers. The collision damaged the right wing tips and the propeller. The impact also damaged the aileron control system.
Forced Landing
With the aileron system compromised, the pilot executed a power-off forced landing in a cornfield. During the landing, the aircraft nosed over.