Accident Overview
An aerial application airplane was destroyed when it struck trees and terrain, resulting in fatal injuries to the pilot. The aircraft came to rest in the field that was to be sprayed, approximately 84 feet from a grouping of trees that exhibited broken branches. No pre-impact mechanical anomalies were identified with the airplane.
Flight Path and Environmental Conditions
Evidence at the accident scene indicates that the airplane was traveling in a northeasterly direction at the time of the impact. The position of the sun was calculated to be 78.4 degrees relative to north and 15.6 degrees above the horizon. The sun's location may have been relevant to the pilot's visibility, although no causal link is established.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane came to rest in the field, with the broken tree branches marking the point of initial contact. The damage was consistent with a collision with trees and subsequent terrain impact. The pilot sustained fatal injuries as a result of the accident.