What happened
The pilot was engaged in agricultural crop dusting operations when the incident occurred. At the time of the event, environmental conditions included haze that reduced visibility to approximately three miles. The operation was taking place during dusk, further complicating visual references.
During a standard swath run, the pilot initiated a pull-up maneuver. In this phase of flight, the aircraft's vertical clearance relative to a cross-country power line was misjudged. Specifically, the distance between the airplane and the top wire of the power line was insufficient.
As a result of this miscalculation, the landing gear made contact with the power line wire. This impact necessitated an immediate forced landing. The collision with the wire combined with the subsequent forced landing caused substantial damage to the airframe.
Findings
Contributing factors included reduced visibility due to haze and low-light conditions associated with dusk. The primary mechanical failure was initiated by the landing gear striking the power line wire due to misjudged altitude during the pull-up from a spray run.