Aerial application aircraft collided with terrain during crop spraying

Casualties unknown • Kenmare, ND, US

An airplane struck a flax field containing tall weeds during an aerial application flight, resulting in the aircraft settling into the crop.

What happened

During an aerial application flight, an unspecified aircraft collided with the terrain while spraying Roundup RT on a flax field. The field contained kochia weeds approximately 4 feet tall and flax measuring between 18 and 20 inches.

The pilot was performing his second load of the day on this specific field and had been using flags to mark the locations where the chemical spray was activated. While flying over wires, the pilot observed what he believed to be a flag positioned directly in line with his current pass.

The aircraft was equipped with a Satloc GPS marking system featuring a light bar located between the fuel tank and the chemical tank. This system is designed to blink if the spray is turned on for a pass that has already been completed. As the pilot looked at the blinking light bar, the aircraft experienced a lurch as the wheels made contact with either the weeds or the flax crop.

Upon impact, the movement caused the chemical within the tank to slosh out of the top of the tank, covering the windshield. The pilot maintained a nose-up attitude, and the airplane subsequently settled into the field. The pilot was not injured.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2001-08-16 Piper PA-25-235 accident near Kenmare, ND?

An airplane struck a flax field containing tall weeds during an aerial application flight, resulting in the aircraft settling into the crop.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2001-08-16 involved a Piper PA-25-235, registration N6794Z, at Kenmare, ND.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot failed to maintain clearance with the terrain during the aerial application flight. Factors associated with the accident were the high vegetation and the pilot's diverted attention during the flight.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20010821X01738. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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