Introduction
On August 4, 2018, at 14:00 local time, a WSK PZL MIELEC M-18A agricultural aircraft (registration N851EJ) operating under Part 137 (Agricultural) was involved in an accident near Dansville, New York. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the empennage.
Accident Details
The pilot reported performing an agricultural application flight to a corn field. The field had a tree line running west to east on its north side and another tree line running north to south on its east end. The pilot was making application passes from east to west, starting at the south side and progressing northward toward the tree line with each pass. He noted that the wind speed increased to about 10 to 12 mph. During the second-to-last spray pass, while heading west, he came over the east-end tree line and descended close to the corn. About 300 feet into the field, the airplane began to descend rapidly. The pilot pitched the nose up, but the descent continued and airspeed decreased. The landing gear struck the corn, and the airplane impacted terrain, coming to rest inverted.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a commercial certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He was 30 years old and had accumulated approximately 1,396 total flight hours, including 28.3 hours in this make and model. His most recent FAA medical exam was on November 27, 2017, with a Class 1 certificate with waivers/limitations. No preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions were reported.
Meteorological Information
A weather station approximately 3 miles northeast of the accident site reported, near the time of the accident, temperature 85.3°F, dew point 68.3°F, and wind from 293° at 6 knots, gusting to 8 knots. Conditions at the site were visual meteorological conditions (VMC) with day lighting.
Wreckage and Impact
The aircraft came to rest inverted in the cornfield after the landing gear struck crops. The damage was limited to the empennage; there was no fire or explosion. The pilot was not injured.
Probable Cause
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight.