What happened
The aircraft was engaged in an aerial application operation when it collided with terrain after contacting a support cable. According to the pilot's account, he identified utility poles ahead during the mission. Aware that electrical wires were present in the vicinity, he adjusted his flight path by swinging wide during a turn to visually locate and avoid them.
Despite these precautions, the right wing of the aircraft made contact with a guy wire while executing the turn. Following the impact, the airplane lost control and settled directly into a sunflower crop field below.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage confirmed that the initial point of failure was the structural damage to the right wing caused by the tensioned cable. No mechanical failures or malfunctions of the aircraft systems were found prior to the collision.
Findings
The pilot's decision to widen the turn, while intended to avoid obstacles, did not provide sufficient clearance from the guy wire. The proximity of the utility infrastructure to the flight path presented a hazard that was not fully mitigated by visual scanning alone.