Accident Overview
On June 30, 2013, about 0900 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, registration N7064Z, impacted high vegetation and terrain while landing on a road near Boonville, Missouri. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its wings and fuselage.
Flight Details
The airplane was registered to co-owning individuals and operated by Plane Cents Aviation LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Day visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed, and the flight did not operate on a VFR flight plan. The local flight originated about 0850 from Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport (VER), near Boonville, Missouri.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot's accident report, he intended to land on a designated road near the field to be fertilized. The original road was unavailable, so he selected a north/south gravel road that he considered suitable. He sent a text message and made low passes to inform the ground crew of the change in location. During these passes, he evaluated wing tip clearance to avoid corn along the roadside.
During the landing rollout, the pilot looked to the right to ensure the wing cleared the corn. He reported feeling the airplane "veer left 180 degrees and roll backwards into the corn, coming to a quick stop." After deplaning, he observed a small berm between the road and the crops, which he said the airplane "evidently hit as it was turning." The impact with the berm and corn caused substantial wing and fuselage damage.
Mechanical Condition
The attorney representing the pilot stated that they were not aware of any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have caused the loss of directional control during the landing.
Weather Information
At 0835, the recorded wind at Jesse Viertel Memorial Airport was 320 degrees at 7 knots.