A G164 (AG CAT) PLT STRUCK A PWR LINE WHILE SPRAYING A FIELD).

Narrative

THIS STATEMENT CONCERNS A CROP DUSTING INCIDENT WITH A GRUMMAN AG CAT AT EDMORE; MI; ON AUG/XA/01. I WAS MAKING A SPRAY PASS HEADED N ON THE W EDGE OF A POTATO FIELD WHICH HAD A WIRE AND TELEPHONE POLES RUNNING ALONG THE EDGE. THERE WAS A WIRE LOCATED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD THAT CROSSED W TO E AND WAS CONNECTED TO THE WIRE I WAS FLYING ALONG ON THE W EDGE. AS I WAS MAKING MY SPRAY PASS; I BECAME CONFUSED AS TO THE EXACT LOCATION OF THE WIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD; WHICH I HAD PLANNED ON GOING UNDER. AS I APCHED THE WIRE; THE TOP WING OF THE AIRPLANE BLOCKED MY VIEW OF IT. I THOUGHT I HAD GONE UNDER IT; BUT WHEN STARTED TO PULL OUT OF THE FIELD IT WAS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. I STRUCK IT WITH THE PROP AND THE UPPER WING. AFTER THE WIRE BROKE; THE ACFT WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND HAD ALMOST NO PWR. I MADE AN EMER LNDG IN A POTATO FIELD NW OF THE FIELD I WAS SPRAYING; AND THE AIRPLANE WENT ON ITS BACK BECAUSE THE GND WAS MUDDY. THE FAA RULED THIS EVENT AN INCIDENT. IT WOULD BE BETTER TO COME IN OVER THE TOP OF THE WIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND FLY AWAY FROM IT SO A CLR VIEW OF IT IS MAINTAINED.