Incident Overview
A pilot conducting an aerial application flight reported that his vision was obstructed by glare from the sun, preventing him from seeing a dead tree ahead of the aircraft until it was too late. The airplane struck the tree and then descended into the field.
Damage and Pilot Experience
The collision caused substantial damage to the right wing of the aircraft. The pilot stated that no mechanical malfunctions or failures occurred before the accident. He reported a total flight experience of approximately 14,000 hours, with 4,700 hours logged in the same make and model as the accident airplane.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the sun glare directly interfered with his ability to see the obstacle. He emphasized that the tree was not visible until the moment of impact, and the aircraft subsequently descended into the field after the collision.