Piper PA-36-300 N3789E accident near Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree at the completion of an agricultural spray run. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to accept a high level of risk to spray a small field bordered by multiple obstacles and his fatigue due to interrupted sleep the night before the accident.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was conducting an agricultural spray operation to a small field with obstacles, including a power line, trees, and heavy construction equipment. His pull-up from the spray pass was too late and the airplane struck a tree on the edge of the field. Due to the tree strike, the pilot lost roll control and maneuvered to a forced landing, during which the airplane cartwheeled. The pilot stated that he accepted a high level of risk to spray the small, tightly confined field, which he regretted. Factoring in his decision were multiple requests to spray the field by a persistent farm owner. Multiple sleep interruptions occurred on the night prior to the accident, which would have affected both the quality and amount of sleep the pilot obtained during his reported sleep opportunity. The resultant fatigue would have likely affected both the pilot’s decision making and flying performance on the day of the accident.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN13LA464 for the full record.