What happened
On July 15, 2022, a Piper PA-25-235, registration HK-1049, was performing agricultural spraying operations over rice crops near Trinidad, Casanare. During the second sortie of the day, the pilot conducted a reconnaissance pass over a new 200-hectare field to identify potential hazards. During this pass, the pilot identified electrical lines crossing the southern boundary of the field.
During the third pass, the pilot attempted to fly beneath a section of the lines that appeared to be at a lower altitude. However, the pilot did not realize that this low clearance was caused by a fallen utility pole that had dragged the wires down to a height of only 5.20 meters. As the pilot maneuvered to avoid the wires, the right wingtip struck the crossarm of the fallen pole, which was partially obscured by the rice crop. The impact caused the pilot to lose control, and the aircraft plummeted to the ground, coming to rest 2/54 meters from the impact point. The pilot was able to exit the aircraft uninjured.
The investigation
The GRIAA investigation focused on the flight planning and the operational environment. Investigators examined the aircraft's maintenance records, which showed the plane was airworthy and up to date. The investigation also reviewed the operator's Safety Management System (SMS) and the pilot's experience level.
Investigators noted that while the pilot was technically qualified, they had relatively low experience in agricultural aviation. Furthermore, the investigation looked into the environmental conditions, specifically the high reflectivity of the rice crops, which can create significant glare. The probe also evaluated the operator's procedures for inspecting new fields prior to spraying operations.