What happened
While operating near a cotton field intended for spraying, an agricultural spray airplane struck a guy wire attached to a 1,040-foot radio tower antenna. The impact caused the aircraft to be destroyed by ground impact and a subsequent post-impact fire. A witness reported hearing the aircraft in the area followed by an explosion; upon exiting his location, he observed the radio tower falling to the ground.
The pilot had previously conducted a map study of the area because the spraying site was considered sensitive due to nearby homes and honeybees. Although the Memphis Sectional Aeronautical Chart used by the pilot depicted the 1,040-foot tower, the aircraft struck one of the guy wires anchoring the structure.
The investigation
An inspection of the aircraft revealed impact marks on the mid-span of the left wing that were consistent with a wire strike. Additionally, the propeller exhibited gouging and scraping marks also consistent with striking a wire.
The tower was supported by three sets of guy wires anchored at 120-degree intervals around the base, approximately 425 feet from the tower. An extra guy wire provided additional support, with its anchor located approximately 729 feet from the tower base in the southeast corner of the field.