Flight Summary
On 15 July 2022, a Piper PA-25-235 (registration HK-1049) operated by an agricultural aviation company conducted spraying flights from La Marota airstrip near Trinidad, Casanare, Colombia. The first sortie began at 06:10 local time and consisted of five passes over an 80-hectare rice field, concluding at 08:30. The second sortie started at 10:30 to spray a new 200-hectare field.
Accident Sequence
The pilot, unfamiliar with the new field, performed a reconnaissance pass and identified power lines crossing the southern boundary. After two passes using point-to-point technique, on the third pass the pilot decided to fly beneath a lower section of the lines, unaware that a fallen pole had pulled the wires down to 5.20 meters above ground. During the maneuver, the right wingtip struck the crossarm of the fallen pole, which was semi-hidden among the crop. The pilot lost control, and the aircraft descended in a level attitude, coming to rest 254 meters further. The pilot shut down the engine and electrical system, then egressed uninjured. A local resident assisted in notifying the operator. No fire occurred.
Aircraft and Pilot Information
The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing, engine, and fuselage skin. The pilot, the sole occupant, was uninjured. The accident occurred at 11:10 local time in daylight visual meteorological conditions at coordinates N 5°26'44" W 071°02'46", elevation 183 meters.
Probable Cause
The investigation determined the probable cause as a collision with a fallen power pole, semi-hidden in the crop being sprayed, which was not noticed by the pilot due to deficiencies in flight planning and execution, and probably also due to glare generated by sunlight reflecting on the rice crop. Contributing factors included weaknesses in the operator's Safety Management System, such as lack of qualified personnel, absence of procedures for pre-flight hazard identification, and no hazard reporting program.