Introduction
On July 18, 2017, at approximately 1330 central daylight time, a Piper PA-25-235 airplane, registration N7388Z, collided with terrain while maneuvering at low altitude about 7 nautical miles northwest of Pierce, Nebraska. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane experienced substantial damage. The aircraft was owned by a private individual and operated by Bloomfield AG and Aerial Service company as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed from Bloomfield Municipal Airport (84Y), Bloomfield, Nebraska, around 1330 for a local flight.
Pilot Information
The pilot informed a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he began working for the operator as an agricultural pilot in the spring of 2017. According to his flight logbook, he had accumulated 17.5 hours of flight time in the accident airplane prior to the incident, which also represented his total experience as an agricultural pilot.
Accident Flight
On the day of the accident, the pilot commenced spraying operations at 0800 and completed two flights before the accident flight. For the 60-acre field he intended to spray near Bloomfield, the airplane was loaded with 60 gallons of chemical and approximately 32 gallons of fuel. He reported setting a smoke path during the initial pass and flew over the field from north to south. The aircraft was equipped with a Trimble GPS system and marking flags to monitor its progress across the field. The pilot stated he had no further memory of the flight.
Witness Accounts
A witness reported observing the airplane during its two morning spraying flights, noting that the engine operated normally. During the accident flight, the witness saw the airplane perform an initial fly-by of the field, then begin spraying along the east side of the cornfield. After turning at the north end, the airplane started its second pass heading south. About midway down the field, near the irrigation pivot point, the witness noticed blue smoke emanating from the airplane for approximately 150 to 200 feet. The airplane's speed was estimated at about 100 mph. The aircraft then struck a tree at the south end of the field and rolled completely over. The witness lost sight of the airplane behind the tree line, later located the accident site, and assisted the pilot until emergency responders arrived. Two neighbors who observed the airplane spraying reported hearing a "popping" noise but did not witness the crash. The witness did not hear any unusual sounds, though his all-terrain vehicle was running and a radio was on.
Wreckage Examination
FAA inspectors examined the airplane wreckage at the scene. They found the right position light and approximately one-quarter of the right wingtip lying next to the tree that was struck. The branches impacted were about 30 to 40 feet above the ground. The main wreckage was located about 360 feet from the impacted tree. The chemical hopper lid, situated on top of the aircraft behind the engine compartment, was found embedded in the ground scar from the initial impact. The propeller spinner was pushed into the propeller blades and spinner bulkhead, consistent with nose-first contact. The airplane came to rest right side up, facing north. The engine compartment and cockpit exhibited aft crushing, and the tail was buckled downward just aft of the cockpit's rear bulkhead. Both wings showed aft crushing, with the right wing sustaining extensive damage outboard of the wing strut. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the control surfaces. The propeller blades displayed "S" bending and chordwise scratching.
Engine and Equipment
The airplane was powered by a 250-horsepower Lycoming O-540-A1A5 engine, serial number L-1365-40. The engine had accumulated a total time of 1,010.6 hours, with 35 hours since its last overhaul, and was installed on the accident airplane on April 2, 2017. The aircraft was equipped with a smoke marker system that produced blue smoke for field marking, aiding in aligning spray runs and providing wind drift indications near the ground.
Weather
At 1356, the surface weather observation at Norfolk Regional Airport (OFK), located 18 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, reported winds light and variable, visibility 10 miles, broken clouds at 3,800 feet, temperature 31°C, dew point 21°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.00 inches of mercury.