No fatalities

Crop Dusting Aircraft Collides with Fence and Tractor, Pilot Unhurt (VH-GSE)

Armidale, AustraliaTakeoff (climb)

On September 26, 1966, a Noorduyn Norseman (registration VH-GSE) operated by Pay & Williamson was involved in an aviation accident near Armidale, Australia during takeoff. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft failed to climb away after becoming airborne and struck the ground again on its main wheels in a gully. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A).

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-06-12Data APIEditorial standards

During a local crop dusting operation, the aircraft struck a fence and a tractor on takeoff, then crashed inverted in flames. The pilot was unhurt but the aircraft was destroyed.

Incident Overview

The pilot Colin Pay was engaged in local crop dusting operations. During takeoff, a series of events led to the aircraft striking a fence and a tractor, culminating in a crash where the aircraft inverted and caught fire.

Detailed Sequence

The investigation detailed the accident sequence as follows. After takeoff, the aircraft failed to climb away and struck the ground again on its main wheels in a gully. It became airborne a second time, but on this occasion it struck the top strand of a wire fence. The aircraft then alighted on its main wheels in a rock-strewn paddock. While moving across the paddock, it collided with a tractor. Following the collision, the aircraft overturned and was subsequently destroyed by fire.

Outcome

Despite the destruction of the aircraft, the pilot Colin Pay was unhurt. The aircraft was completely destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to climb away after becoming airborne and struck the ground again on its main wheels in a gully. On becoming airborne again it struck the top strand of a wire fence then alighted on the main wheels in a rock-strewn paddock, collided with a tractor, overturned and was destroyed by fire.