NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CHI91DER05
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE TERRAIN. A RELATED FACTOR IS THE PILOT'S MISJUDGED ALTITUDE ABOVE THE CROP.
Factual narrative
THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATIONS OVER A WHEAT FIELD WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE WAS FLYING HIS FIRST SPRAY SWATH ON THE FIELD WHEN THE SPRAY BOOM CONTACTED THE CROP. THE HELICOPTER IMPACTED THE GROUND AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT'S RECOMMENDATION WAS TO FLY HIS SPRAY SWATHS AT A HIGHER ALTITUDE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1991_CHI91DER05.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
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