What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
While performing aerial applications near Moorhead ms, the pilot failed to see power lines and struck a utility pole with the left wing breaking off the top four feet of the pole. A crossmember of the utility pole impaled the left wing damaging the front spar, fuel tank and rear spar. The crossmember remained lodged in the wing jamming the aileron and flap controls for duration of the flight. The pilot was able to direct the aircraft using rudder and elevator controls to a nearby grass airstrip and land safely.
As the FAA filed it
WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATIONS NEAR MOORHEAD MS, THE PILOT FAILED TO SEE POWER LINES AND STRUCK A UTILITY POLE WITH THE LEFT WING BREAKING OFF THE TOP FOUR FEET OF THE POLE. A CROSSMEMBER OF THE UTILITY POLE IMPALED THE LEFT WING DAMAGING THE FRONT SPAR, FUEL TANK AND REAR SPAR. THE CROSSMEMBER REMAINED LODGED IN THE WING JAMMING THE AILERON AND FLAP CONTROLS FOR DURATION OF THE FLIGHT. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO DIRECT THE AIRCRAFT USING RUDDER AND ELEVATOR CONTROLS TO A NEARBY GRASS AIRSTRIP AND LAND SAFELY.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.