Accident Overview
An aerial application pilot departed from his home base with 305 gallons of solution. During the flight, the pilot observed that more power than usual was required to maintain altitude and that the airplane was performing poorly.
Sequence of Events
While maneuvering to line up for the first swath run, the airspeed decreased to 75 mph. The pilot reported a sink rate that could not be stopped, even with full power and quarter flaps deployed. As the airplane descended, its landing gear struck a five-strand barbed wire fence. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground.
Aircraft Damage
The impact resulted in substantial damage to the wing, landing gear, fuselage, and engine mount.
Environmental Conditions
The density altitude at the time of the accident was approximately 5,100 feet.