Accident Details
The aircraft was on its 64th sortie of the day when it conducted a topdressing run along the side of a ridge facing the airstrip. Shortly after, a loader driver observed a cloud of superphosphate dust rising from behind the ridge. The engine noise ceased, prompting the driver to run several hundred yards to the accident site, where he discovered the aircraft had crashed.
Sequence of Events
The accident location indicated that the pilot was performing a "cleaning up" run across the end of the ridge. During a steep left turn of about 270°, the port wing tip struck a spur extending from the ridge. The aircraft pivoted around its wing tip, causing the nose to impact the slope heavily. The engine separated from the airframe. The aircraft then dropped approximately 15 meters in a level attitude into a hollow beyond the spur, traveling backward and coming to rest within a few meters.
Wreckage Examination
Examination of the wreck revealed no pre-impact defects or failures. The engine was delivering power at the time of impact. The flying conditions were good, with only a light breeze and no low cloud affecting the operation. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces; no fire occurred.
Pilot Experience
The pilot was comparatively inexperienced in agricultural flying operations. The official findings cite that the pilot misjudged the turning radius of the aircraft during the steep turn, leading to the collision with the hillside.