What happened
On August 30, 2024, at approximately 08:40 local time, a Piper PA25-235 aircraft, registration HK1290, was performing agricultural spraying operations over rice fields in the municipality of Campoalegre, Huila. The aircraft was executing a series of low-altitude passes over the La Palma lot as part of a scheduled mission to treat several agricultural plots.
During a northbound pass, the aircraft struck a low-voltage electrical line consisting of three wires (two phases and one ground) positioned at a height of approximately 5.5 meters. The impact caused the aircraft to lose airspeed and descend toward the ground. The pilot attempted to maintain control, but the aircraft struck the terrain in a semi-controlled manner before undergoing a dynamic rollover, eventually coming to rest in an inverted position. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was able to egress the aircraft without injuries.
The investigation
The investigation conducted by the DIACC established that the aircraft had been operating without a GPS satellite system, relying instead on the pilot's experience and visual markers. Physical inspection of the wreckage revealed substantial damage to the wings, the forward section, and the upper cockpit area. The engine showed no signs of mechanical failure, and the propeller exhibited evidence of a sudden stoppage upon impact.
The investigation also identified that the impact occurred specifically with the left main landing gear. Investigators determined that the pilot experienced significant solar glare during the maneuver, which obscured the visibility of the power lines. While the pilot was highly experienced in the local area, the investigation noted that the operator had not performed a specific hazard identification for this particular lot, and the risk assessment did not account for solar glare as a potential threat.
Findings
- The primary cause of the accident was the collision with electrical power lines during low-altitude maneuvering.
- The pilot's excessive confidence led to the decision to continue the spraying maneuver despite degraded visual perception caused by solar glare.
- There was a deficiency in risk management regarding the identification of environmental hazards, such as sun glare, during agricultural flight operations.
- The operation was conducted without the use of GPS, increasing reliance on visual navigation in a high-risk environment.