What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On March 28, 2025, at approximately 7:55 local time, an Air tractor struck the top of a mini-excavator boom that was located in a field they were spraying. The airman started an application pass and planned to climb over the mini-excavator to continue their pass but misjudged the height of the boom on the mini-excavator. The front left landing gear contacted the boom of the mini-excavator causing the airplane to alter its trajectory and make contact with the ground. The aircraft slid approximately 300 yards before coming to a stop. Day VFR conditions existed. No injuries sustained by the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
ON MARCH 28, 2025, AT APPROXIMATELY 7:55 LOCAL TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR STRUCK THE TOP OF A MINI-EXCAVATOR BOOM THAT WAS LOCATED IN A FIELD THEY WERE SPRAYING. THE AIRMAN STARTED AN APPLICATION PASS AND PLANNED TO CLIMB OVER THE MINI-EXCAVATOR TO CONTINUE THEIR PASS BUT MISJUDGED THE HEIGHT OF THE BOOM ON THE MINI-EXCAVATOR. THE FRONT LEFT LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE BOOM OF THE MINI-EXCAVATOR CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO ALTER ITS TRAJECTORY AND MAKE CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT SLID APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. DAY VFR CONDITIONS EXISTED. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.