Incident Overview
During an aerial application operation, a pilot conducting spraying activities did not report any discrepancies with the aircraft throughout the day. The pilot was spraying several 20-acre sugarcane plots located to the north and south of a communications tower that extended 494 feet above the ground.
Witness Observations
Witnesses observed the airplane tumble end-over-end as it fell from the sky. The aircraft subsequently struck the ground and began to burn.
Physical Evidence
Physical evidence of cable damage and yellow paint transfer was found on the tower's guide cables. The tower was found on the ground, and numerous pieces of the airplane were discovered near the tower cables and within the sugarcane plot. Damaged cable segments ranged from 101 feet to 131 feet above the ground, and stress coiling was evident in all three cables on the northeast corner outer anchor point.
Conclusion
The investigation documented the sequence of events and physical evidence, but no probable cause was stated in the source material.