The pilot of a Robinson Model R44 helicopter spraying a corn field near Frances was killed when the chopper struck a utility line and crashed at about 5:45 p.m., Monday. Timothy Earl Watson, 55, of Georgiana, Ala., was flying the aircraft, spraying fertilizer and fungicide at the Parish and Hooks Farm off Caldwell Springs Road when the deadly crash occurred. He was working for Forest Tech, LLC of Lawrenceville, Ga. The pilot had four years experience in agriculture and forestland work.
Other members of the spraying crew said they believed the sun may have affected the pilot's vision. The helicopter clipped the static or top line of a Big Rivers electricity transmission line and fell straight down. The craft burst into flames and the pilot died on impact. Electricity was out to about 4,500 customers in several areas of Crittenden and surrounding counties for about an hour following the crash.
For more information, see this week's printed edition of The Crittenden Press.
The photograph above was taken by Natalie Peek, who lives nearby and took the picture Wednesday while the chopper was refilling its spray tank on a portable landing platform. The pilot is in the cockpit while two crew members reload the chopper with chemicals.
