What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
The pilot was engaged in part 137 agricultural spraying. The pilot stated that they cleared the field with a survey pass. During the first spray pass parallel to a tree line, the pilot initiated a climbing manuver and struck an overhanging tree limb leading to loss of control of the aircraft. The pilot stated that they initiated the climb to avoid what they mistakenly believed to be powerline ahead in the flight path.
As the FAA filed it
THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN PART 137 AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY CLEARED THE FIELD WITH A SURVEY PASS. DURING THE FIRST SPRAY PASS PARALLEL TO A TREE LINE, THE PILOT INITIATED A CLIMBING MANUVER AND STRUCK AN OVERHANGING TREE LIMB LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THEY INITIATED THE CLIMB TO AVOID WHAT THEY MISTAKENLY BELIEVED TO BE POWERLINE AHEAD IN THE FLIGHT PATH.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.