Aircraft crash during agricultural spraying near Wyangala Dam

1 fatality • Cowra, Australia • Flight

An aircraft crashed while performing superphosphate spreading operations south of Wyangala Dam, resulting in no survivors.

What happened

During an agricultural mission involving the dispersal of superphosphate, an aircraft crashed in a region characterized by undulating terrain south of the Wyangala Dam. At the time of the incident, the aircraft was operating approximately one mile away from its designated landing strip. The pilot had successfully completed three separate sorties earlier that morning.

Upon finishing the distribution of a fourth load, the aircraft was observed returning toward the airfield. Witnesses, specifically two loader drivers stationed at the strip, reported that the sound of the engine abruptly stopped, followed immediately by a heavy impact noise. The aircraft struck the ground in a steep, nose-down orientation within the spreading area. No observers were able to provide details regarding the flight path of the plane in the moments leading up to the collision.

Findings

An inspection of the wreckage failed to identify any mechanical failures or technical malfunctions that could have been responsible for the crash. While an official determination has not been reached, investigators noted that the pilot may have attempted a turn that was too steep to recover from given the low altitude.

Probable cause

The cause remains undetermined, though it is possible the pilot entered an unrecoverable turn at a low altitude.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1970-03-26 Fletcher FU-24 accident near Cowra, Australia?

An aircraft crashed while performing superphosphate spreading operations south of Wyangala Dam, resulting in no survivors.

Were there any fatalities in the 1970-03-26 Fletcher FU-24 accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 1 fatality.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1970-03-26 involved a Fletcher FU-24, registration VH-EOB, operated by Hazair Agricultural Services, at Cowra, Australia.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The cause remains undetermined, though it is possible the pilot entered an unrecoverable turn at a low altitude.

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