Accident Overview
On July 9, 2020, about 0805 central daylight time, a Cessna 188 airplane, Canadian registry C-GWWE, was destroyed when it struck a canola field near Pembina, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was conducting an aerial application flight under Canadian Aviation Regulations Subpart 702.
Witness Observations
Prior to the accident, at approximately 0745, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer observed the airplane spraying fungicide on a canola field in Canada, flying north-south passes. After each southbound spray pass, the airplane entered U.S. airspace and made a left turn back toward the Canadian field. The officer later saw a large ball of fire rising from a field and responded to the accident site to assist the pilot. The officer did not witness the actual accident sequence.
Accident Site and Aircraft Damage
The airplane came to rest inverted in a U.S. canola field. The left wing tip was located near the initial ground impact point. The debris path measured about 150 feet in length and was oriented toward the southeast.
Examination Findings
Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Onboard electronic devices did not contain any recorded flight data.
Weather Conditions
Strong westerly winds were present at the time of the accident and continued to increase afterward. Approximately 10 minutes after the accident, the reported wind in the area was 17 knots with gusts to 22 knots.
Pilot Information
The accident occurred during the pilot's third spray load of the day. Due to his injuries, the pilot could not recall any details regarding the accident sequence.