What happened
During an agricultural mission involving the distribution of superphosphate, an aircraft was operating in clear weather conditions over a paddock that sloped upward toward heavily forested peaks. The flight was part of a routine operation, as the pilot had completed similar work in the same area the previous day. While the initial pass of the swath was finished without issue, the aircraft failed to maintain or increase altitude as it neared the timberline.
As the plane approached the hills, it entered a steep nose-up attitude and began a wingover maneuver. During this sequence, the aircraft collided with trees before striking the ground. The impact triggered a large fire that consumed the wreckage. There was one fatality involving the pilot, who was the only person on board.
Findings
Investigation efforts were limited by the intensity of the post-crash fire, which prevented the identification of any mechanical malfunctions or defects. However, several environmental and operational factors were identified as relevant to the accident:
- The pilot chose to fly toward steeply rising terrain despite the availability of safer flight paths.
- A change in wind direction compared to the previous day likely created downdrafts on the lee side of the hills.
- The pilot appeared to miscalculate the aircraft's ability to climb effectively under the current conditions.
- In an attempt to recover, the pilot tried to dump the remaining payload and reverse course, but the aircraft lacked the necessary performance to complete the turn safely.