Incident Overview
A pilot reported that while conducting aerial spraying operations over a cornfield, he observed two wires that were not previously known to be present. Upon sighting the wires, the pilot determined they were too close for the airplane to climb over them. He then initiated a maneuver to fly under the wires. However, during this maneuver, the airplane impacted rolling terrain located below the wires. The aircraft subsequently bounced into the air, entered an aerodynamic stall, and came to rest in trees adjacent to the field.
Wreckage Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage and noted damage to both wing spars. The inspector did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any such issues prior to the accident.
Discussion
The pilot's decision to fly under the wires, rather than attempting to climb over them, led to the aircraft descending into terrain. The impact with the ground caused the aircraft to become airborne again before stalling and coming to rest in trees. The damage to both wing spars is consistent with the forces sustained during the impact and subsequent ground contact. The absence of preimpact mechanical anomalies suggests that the aircraft's performance was not compromised by any system failure.