What happened
The pilot was conducting practice maneuvers for aerial application operations when the incident occurred. During one of these practice runs, the pilot failed to accurately judge his altitude and position relative to the terrain below. This error in spatial awareness resulted in the aircraft coming into contact with trees.
Upon impact, the airplane did not remain upright. Instead, it flipped completely inverted as part of the crash sequence. Following this violent motion, the aircraft caught fire and burned during the aftermath of the collision.
The investigation
Investigators examined the physical evidence at the accident site to determine the sequence of events leading up to the final impact. They noted that the airplane had actually touched down on the ground approximately 45 feet before striking the trees. This detail suggests a brief period of controlled flight or bounce prior to the fatal collision with the vegetation.
A thorough mechanical inspection of the wreckage was conducted to rule out pre-existing issues with the aircraft's systems. The examination failed to reveal any evidence of mechanical failures or system malfunctions that could have contributed to the accident.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the pilot's inability to maintain proper clearance from obstacles during low-level flight operations. The practice nature of the flight did not mitigate the risk associated with misjudging distance and height. The subsequent inversion and fire were direct consequences of the initial collision with the trees.