LAX93LA365

Two airplanes were spraying the same field. The accident airplane encountered the first airplane's wake turbulence during the turn-around maneuver when it was 65 feet above the ground. The airplane's altitude was insufficient to arrest the loss of control before it collided with the ground.

On September 22, 1993, at 0945 hours mountain standard time, a Snow 600-S2C, N1677S, collided with the terrain during an aerial application turn-around maneuver near Surprise, Arizona. The pilot was conducting a local visual flight rules aerial application flight under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The airplane, operated by Moseley Aviation, Inc., Litchfield Park, Arizona, sustained substantial damage. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at a privately owned airstrip at Litchfield Park at an undetermined time.

The operator reported in a telephone interview conducted on September 28, 1993, that two airplanes were spraying the same field. The accident airplane was following the first airplane as it completed a turn-around maneuver. When the accident airplane was performing the turn-around maneuver, it encountered the vortex from the preceding airplane and collided with the ground. The operator also stated that the airplane did not experience any preimpact malfunctions or failures.

The pilot reiterated the operator's statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1/2. He also said that the airplane was about 65 feet above the ground when he encountered the vortex from the other airplane.