What happened
During an aerial topdressing operation on a farm located near Taumarunui, a Fletcher aircraft failed to return to its base as scheduled. This incident occurred during the 43rd flight of the day. Following a search, the wreckage was discovered burning in a location situated roughly halfway between the designated sowing area and the airstrip.
Upon impact, the aircraft was destroyed, with the resulting fire primarily affecting the cockpit and engine compartment. Investigation of the site revealed that the pilot had initiated a 9-degree turn toward the airfield and had begun discharging the superphosphate load from the hopper. At the time of the crash, approximately 15 hundredweight of the material remained in the hopper. The aircraft struck a grassy slope that rose at a 15-degree angle while traveling at a low forward speed but with a high rate of descent. The impact caused both fuel tanks to rupture; however, investigators noted an absence of Avtur odor near the left-hand tank.
Findings
Analysis of the wreckage indicated that the engine was generating high rotational energy during the collision, and there were no signs of mechanical malfunction preceding the accident. An autopsy confirmed that the pilot sustained fatal injuries and showed no evidence that any fire had started while the aircraft was still airborne.
Investigators determined that an in-flight emergency likely prompted the pilot to attempt a return to the airstrip or execute an immediate forced landing. While not conclusively proven, evidence suggests that a reduction in fuel flow, leading to a partial loss of engine power, may have influenced the pilot's decision-making. This emergency occurred while fuel levels were critically low for continued flight without replenishment.