What happened
On July 31, 2013, at approximately 08:00 local time, a Piper PA25-260 Pawnee, registration HI 340, was engaged in agricultural spraying operations near Ranchito, La Vega. After completing its fifth pass over a nearby farm, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of power while flying at an altitude of approximately 300 feet.
The pilot was unable to identify a suitable emergency landing site due to the low altitude. The aircraft subsequently struck a line of trees, roughly 75 feet in height, which caused significant damage to both wings. Following the impact with the vegetation, the aircraft struck the ground, resulting in the collapse of the landing gear and substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained a serious injury consisting of a closed fracture of the right clavicle.