On April 26, 2008, a Fletcher FU-24 (registration ZK-DZC) operated by Rowley Aviation was involved in an aviation accident near Kaihoka, New Zealand during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The accident may have been caused by a combination of a tailwind and an aircraft weight that exceeded safe limits for the conditions. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
A topdressing aircraft struck a low hill during its takeoff roll, resulting in the destruction of the plane and serious injuries to the pilot.
What happened
While performing a takeoff maneuver, a topdressing aircraft impacted a low-lying hill. The collision caused the pilot to lose control of the vehicle shortly after the initial contact with the terrain. The subsequent crash resulted in the total destruction of the aircraft. The pilot sustained serious injuries during the accident.
Findings
Information provided by the pilot suggests that several environmental and operational factors may have contributed to the event. Specifically, there was a potential tailwind component present during the takeoff phase. Additionally, investigations indicate that the aircraft might have been operating with an overload relative to the prevailing flight conditions.
Probable cause
The accident may have been caused by a combination of a tailwind and an aircraft weight that exceeded safe limits for the conditions.