Incident Overview
An aircraft contracted for gypsy moth spraying operations crashed in a wooded area north of Muskegon, Michigan, according to witness accounts. The airplane was one of five contracted by the State of Michigan for the pest control operation and had already flown twice earlier that day.
Witness Observations
A witness reported watching the airplane head southbound, then execute a U-turn and head north toward her location. She noted hearing the engine and stated, "There was no engine trouble. It sounded as if it were under full power. It was not sputtering. It sounded okay." As the airplane crossed the street in front of her house, it "got caught in the tree tops, and went into the woods."
The witness's husband provided additional detail, stating he saw the airplane "head south, then turn west, and then north (making a U-turn) over my residence." He described the plane as sounding normal but appearing lower than in previous passes. Approximately 50 feet north of his house, "the bottom of the plane began brushing the tree tops. I observed and heard the plane diving through the trees before it crashed to the ground. Approximately 30 seconds later, the plane burst into flames."
Wreckage Examination
An examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies, indicating no preexisting mechanical or structural issues were identified.
Operational Context
The airplane was part of a group of five aircraft contracted by the State of Michigan to spray for Gypsy moths in the area north of Muskegon, Michigan. The accident flight was the third flight of the day for this specific aircraft.