AO-1990-003T

The pilot had sprayed the property, traversed by 110000 volt electrical power transmission lines, on many previous occasions. He experienced no problem during the first sortie in which the aircraft passed beneath the conductors at least six times. He then re-loaded, and made two further spray runs under the conductors. On the next run, after passing over a solitary tree, the pilot was obliged to lower the nose of the aircraft to fly beneath the conductors, prior to pulling up again beyond them to clear a stand of trees. The aircraft struck several of the conductors, skidded across the brow of the hillside, and finally came to rest 370 m beyond the transmission line. The pilot sustained serious back injuries in the accident.