What happened
On July 6, 1964, a pilot holding a Commercial Pilot Licence was conducting flight training to gain experience in the FU24 prior to beginning agricultural work. Following instructions from the chief pilot, the pilot loaded the aircraft's hopper with approximately 407 kg of sand. The objective of the flight was to practice low-altitude maneuvers within a specific area, maintaining an altitude between 1,000 and 1,500 feet while testing the aircraft's behavior near its stall threshold without entering a full stall.
Witnesses in the Mosstown region, located roughly five miles from the airfield, observed the ZK-BOA flying at very low speeds and altitudes. One observer noted that the aircraft appeared to be flying dangerously low, estimating the height to be between 150 and 200 feet. During these maneuvers, the nose of the plane was seen pitching downward accompanied by increased engine noise. While no one witnessed the actual impact, a witness reported hearing the sound of a crash several minutes after observing the aircraft at low altitude.
Findings
The investigation determined that the aircraft struck the ground during a steep left-hand diving turn. Evidence at the scene indicated that a stall occurred during a turn, causing the port wing to drop sharply. The aircraft entered an uncontrolled spiral and hit the terrain before the pilot could recover control. There was no evidence of engine or structural malfunction, and weather conditions were clear with high visibility.
While the FU24 is typically capable of recovering from such maneuvers if sufficient altitude is maintained, the crash occurred at approximately 200 feet AGL. The investigation concluded that the pilot's relative lack of experience with both general flying and this specific aircraft type was a primary contributing factor. The impact resulted in one fatality and the total destruction of the aircraft, though no post-crash fire was reported.