Event CHI07CA180

Factual narrative

The agricultural airplane received substantial damage when it impacted trees and was consumed by a post-crash ground fire. The pilot stated that he circled the airplane around the corn field twice to check for obstructions. The pilot then began his spray run by entering the field over the northwest corner heading east. The pilot stated he was "watching trees on the right, then left" and when he looked forward he "misjudged the distance of the tree line at the end of the field". The airplane subsequently struck tree tops, and the pilot "could not regain control of the aircraft" before it settled into the trees. The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented by identifying all obstructions surrounding and within the spray area and using better judgement before entering the area. The agricultural airplane received substantial damage when it impacted trees and was consumed by a post-crash ground fire. The pilot stated that he circled the airplane around the corn field twice to check for obstructions. The pilot then began his spray run by entering the field over the northwest corner heading east. The pilot stated he was "watching trees on the right, then left" and when he looked forward he "misjudged the distance of the tree line at the end of the field". The airplane subsequently struck tree tops, and the pilot "could not regain control of the aircraft" before it settled into the trees. The pilot stated in his accident report that the accident could have been prevented by identifying all obstructions surrounding and within the spray area and using better judgement before entering the area. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12