Accident Summary
The pilot, who had logged 21,000 flight hours, had just completed a second aerial application over a wooded area and was en route back to the airport. While maneuvering, the airplane struck a 197-foot-high tower. The aircraft then impacted terrain, resulting in a post-impact fire. No eyewitnesses were reported to have seen the collision with the tower.
Tower Details
Examination of the accident site revealed that the outboard portion of the right wing had separated and was found adjacent to the base of the tower. The top three feet of the tower were severed, and yellow paint transfer consistent with the color of the airplane was noted. The tower had been erected 15 days prior to the accident. It was of an unpainted metal color and was not equipped with an obstruction light.
Weather Conditions
A weather observation system located approximately 29 miles northwest of the accident site reported an overcast cloud ceiling at 25,000 feet at the time of the accident.