20050804024669A

(-23) Witnesses indicated the aircraft arrived at a field of corn to be sprayed at approximately 0745. The aircraft made a circuit of the field and then made one pass applying chemical. Subsequently, the aircraft did a pull up and turn around approaching the field from the opposite direction. Cutting diagonally across the end of the field of mature corn was an electricity transmission line. The line consisted of five wires strung between poles approximately 200 feet apart. The lines sagged in the middle to only about 30 feet above the ground. The aircraft struck the wires, breaking four of them and damaging the remaining wire. The aircraft continued ahead for about 200 feet, crashing into the field of corn, skidding sideways and coming to rest inverted. The seriously injured pilot was able to extricate himself from the aircraft just before a fire began, which destroyed the aircraft. Numerous wire strike indications were observed on the propeller and leading edges of the remaining wings. The pilot reported that he had applied chemical to this field numerous times previously, and had intended to fly under the wires. He said his vision of the wires was obscured by flying into the morning sun.