Air Tractor AT802 N949TM accident near Newell, Iowa

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that he was in the process of spraying a corn field and climbed to avoid trees that were in his path. When he descended back toward the field, the airplane settled more than expected and the landing gear and bottom of the airplane hit the corn. The pilot was unable to climb the airplane out of the corn and the left wing hit the ground. The airplane rotated about 180°, bounced, then impacted the ground on the right wing and engine, before it came to rest upright. The pilot was not injured and he stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, both wings, and empennage.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA313 for the full record.