What happened
During a routine training exercise over the Newcastle region, the pilot encountered deteriorating meteorological conditions. The adverse weather led to a loss of spatial orientation. In an attempt to regain visual reference with the terrain, the pilot reduced the aircraft's altitude. However, this maneuver resulted in a collision with a stony wall situated in Medomsley, approximately 16 kilometers southwest of Newcastle. Upon impact, the airframe broke into two sections and came to rest inverted. The pilot sustained injuries during the accident, while the aircraft was destroyed.
Findings
The investigation indicated that the primary contributing factor was the pilot's loss of orientation caused by poor weather conditions. The decision to descend in an effort to establish visual contact with the ground proved fatal to the airframe's integrity, as it led directly to the strike against the obstacle.