What happened
The pilot was conducting agricultural operations, specifically applying chemical treatments to a cotton field. During the course of these maneuvers, the aircraft descended and flew beneath high-power transmission lines. As the airplane passed under these lines, the vertical stabilizer made contact with one of the wires. This impact caused the rudder and the entire vertical stabilizer assembly to separate from the fuselage.
Following the structural failure, the aircraft crossed over a road and continued its trajectory upward, passing over a second set of low-power lines before striking the tops of trees. The airplane traveled approximately 150 yards after hitting the vegetation before its left wing impacted the ground. The force of the impact caused the aircraft to spin around, eventually coming to rest in an upright position.
The investigation
The physical evidence indicated that the primary damage originated from the initial contact with the high-power lines. The separation of the rudder and vertical stabilizer was consistent with the reported strike. No other mechanical failures were noted prior to the impact with the infrastructure.
Findings
The loss of control was directly caused by the aircraft striking a power line during low-altitude maneuvering. The pilot's decision to fly under high-power lines in an area with dense agricultural activity contributed to the accident.