Accident Overview
A pilot was the sole occupant of a Fletcher aircraft engaged in a crop spraying mission in the region of Taupo. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at low height, the pilot initiated a right turn. The aircraft lost height and crashed in a pasture approximately 11 km northeast of Taupo. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot sustained serious injuries.
Investigation Findings
The official investigation into the accident reported several findings. During the turning maneuver at low height, the aircraft stalled and struck the ground in a wing-level attitude with a high rate of descent. The height above ground at the time provided the pilot with little opportunity for recovery. The pilot likely reverted to an unsafe flying practice adopted during earlier training. This unsafe practice had been recognized by a previous instructor who, after failing to correct it, discontinued the pilot's training. The final instructor had no reason for concern as the pilot exhibited no dangerous trends and flew as instructed. However, had the final instructor been aware of the pilot's previous tendency to perform unsafe maneuvers, corrective action might have been possible.
Causal Factors
The investigation identified the following causal factors: lack of continuity in training records, pressure the pilot believed he was under to achieve maximum productivity with minimal delay, the pilot's apparent refusal to accept cautions regarding his ability, and the Fletcher aircraft's performance during the execution of a limit maneuver too close to terrain.