What happened
Following the completion of the final spraying pass in an agricultural operation, the pilot initiated a turn to the west to return to the airport. As the aircraft banked, it was oriented directly into the setting sun. The combination of intense glare and chemical residue on the windshield significantly impaired the pilot's visual acuity.
This obstruction prevented the pilot from maintaining visual contact with electrical power lines located in the area. Despite being aware that power lines existed in the vicinity, the pilot failed to see them due to the environmental conditions. The airplane subsequently impacted the power lines, resulting in an uncontrollable descent to the ground.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the impact. Key factors included the position of the sun relative to the aircraft's heading and the condition of the windshield. The pilot had prior knowledge of the power lines in the area, but the visual obstruction caused by the chemicals and sunlight prevented detection.
Findings
The primary cause of the accident was the failure to maintain visual contact with obstacles due to glare and a contaminated windshield. Contributing factors included the time of day (sunset) and the nature of the agricultural spraying operation which deposited chemicals on the windshield.