20100531035119A

Aircraft N7013K, a Piper PA-20 departed pm duster's airfield, a privately owned airfield approximately 20 miles south of chico CA at approximately 1630 hours. At approximately 1645 hours, the aircraft containing a pilot and two passengers, crashed into a rice field approximately 25 miles south of chico, CA. The crash was non-fatal but the three occupants sustained serious injuries. The aircraft came to rest in a rice field that had been recently irrigated and was under approximately 12 inches of water. The aircraft came to rest upside down heading south. The left wing had separated from the aircraft. The forward and aft beam wing spar fractured approximately four feet outboard of the wing root. The left main landing gear strut and wheel assembly were separated from the aircraft. The engine compartment was turned toward the left approximately 30 degrees. The propeller sustained relatively minor damage. There were some isolated nicks on the propeller blade leading edges on both blades. The nicks looked fresh and about ¼" deep located at midspan the blade length. There was no evidence of fire. The fuel tanks were mostly submerged in water. A large fuel slick on the water was observed. The aircraft had three occupants. They were the pilot, a passenger occupying the copilot's seat and a rear seat passenger. The pilot sustained very serious injuries. He spent several days in intensive care with several broken bones and internal injuries. The passenger in the copilot's seat has very similar injuries as those of the pilot. The passenger in the rear sustained multiple bruises and lacerations and battery acid and fuel burns to the skin. The rear seat passenger was interviewed on 6/4/2010 and provided the following information. The aircraft departed the airstrip at pm dusters, a local agricultural airstrip located near Durham, CA. There was an unknown quantity of fuel on board. The pilot made some landings at a different airstrip. The aircraft made a full stop landing at one point so the occupants could relieve themselves. The aircraft took off again and crashed shortly afterwards. The rear seat passenger stated that the engine was running prior to the crash and that the aircraft was working fine. He did not know the altitude the aircraft was flying just before the accident. The pilot was interviewed on 6/21/2010. He stated that he does not remember anything at all concerning the flight or accident. The right seat passenger will be interviewed when he becomes available. This investigation will continue. An ammendment to this report will be submitted as more information becomes available.