Accident Overview
On July 4, 2013, at approximately 0945 central daylight time, a Gulfstream-Schweizer Aircraft Corporation G-164B airplane, registration N8187K, was substantially damaged when it struck a tree and then the ground near Colfax, Louisiana. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The aircraft was owned and operated by Huttos Flying Services LLC, conducting an aerial application flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137.
Flight Details
Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight operated without a flight plan and had departed from a private airstrip near Alexandria, Louisiana. The purpose of the local flight was to apply herbicide to a 40-acre field.
Accident Sequence
The pilot reported that he was "trimming up the edges" of the field when he misjudged the height of a pecan tree located on the northwest corner. The airplane contacted the tree, rolled inverted, and subsequently impacted the ground. The collision resulted in substantial damage to the right wing and right aileron.
Aircraft and Operator Information
The G-164B is a single-engine agricultural aircraft designed for crop dusting and other aerial application tasks. The operator, Huttos Flying Services LLC, was authorized to conduct Part 137 operations. No information regarding the pilot's experience or the aircraft's maintenance history was provided in the source.
Conclusion
The accident occurred during a routine agricultural application flight. The pilot's misjudgment of tree height led to the collision. No factors beyond the pilot's statement were cited in the initial report.