What happened
During a scheduled agricultural sowing mission, a student pilot was operating a FU24, registration ZK-CTO, under the direct supervision of an instructor flying a separate aircraft. The mission involved multiple sorties, during which the instructor paused operations to provide the student with a briefing on the required sowing pattern. Following this instruction, the student successfully completed several additional flights.
After a scheduled break to refuel both aircraft, the student began the climbout for the second load of the session. During this ascent, observers noted that the engine of ZK-CLO suddenly cut out and then began misfiring, though it appeared to briefly recover power. The aircraft was observed in an end-of-procedure-turn configuration, but at an altitude significantly lower than standard operating levels and in a state of descent. The aircraft subsequently struck a nearby hillside, resulting in a post-impact fire. The pilot sustained fatal injuries upon impact.
The investigation
TAIC investigators examined the sequence of events surrounding the engine performance and the aircraft's flight path. The investigation focused on the period immediately following the refueling stop and the subsequent climbout phase. Investigators analyzed the aircraft's position during the end-of-procedure turn and the observed engine malfunctions, including the engine cutting out and misfiring prior to the collision.