What happened
On the day of the accident, the pilot was performing scheduled topdressing services for multiple clients. The flight operations began at 0653 hours, departing from Stratford Aerodrome in ZK-LTF, a topdressing aircraft, to service an initial airstrip located approximately 7 km to the north-east. Following a reconnaissance flight, spreading operations commenced at 0722 hours and concluded at 1034 hours. After several brief landings at Stratford and another nearby strip, the aircraft moved to a location near Huiroa to complete the remaining tasks.
From the Huiroa strip, the crew treated four separate blocks at various distances and directions. The final task involved a block 4.5 km south of the strip, near the Strathmore Saddle. Although a reconnaissance flight of this area occurred at 1518 hours, the actual spreading of urea did not begin until 1755 hours. Two loads were distributed between 1755 and 1812 hours. Following a 12-minute interval used for loading the final amount of fertilizer and securing the bins, the aircraft departed again at 1824 hours. During this break, the loader driver boarded the aircraft, intending to return to Stratford with the pilot.
At 1825 hours, while flying over the property, the pilot completed one southward run, performed a left reversal, and spread a swath on a northerly heading. As the pilot pulled up to initiate another left reversal, the aircraft struck the ground heavily while traveling on a south-westerly heading. The impact caused two fatalities.
Findings
The accident occurred at approximately 1830 hours NZST during evening civil twilight at an elevation of roughly 530 feet. The wreckage and the crew were located by search parties shortly after midnight.