What happened
On 13 June 20 and 14 June 2001, a Cresco aircraft, registration ZK-TMO, was performing topdressing duties at Te Aroha Station, located roughly 25 km west of Gisborne. Following an initial briefing from the property owner and two reconnaissance flights, the aircraft began spreading operations. During the first day of work, the pilot completed 14 sorties, each carrying 1800 kg, without reported issues.
Operations resumed the following morning, 14 June, targeting an area east of the airstrip. During the third flight of the day, the pilot performed a partial load jettison shortly after departing the strip, which shortened the duration of the mission. Upon returning to the site, the pilot did not communicate any need for a reduced payload for subsequent flights.
At approximately 1145 hours, the aircraft was loaded and began its takeoff roll. An observer on the ground, the loader driver, watched the initial portion of the takeoff before returning to preparations. Shortly after, the driver noticed thick black smoke. Upon investigating the area left of and below the elevated airstrip, the driver discovered the aircraft had overturned in a small stream and was engulfed in flames. The pilot was visible inside the wreckage, but the intense heat of the fire prevented rescue attempts. The accident resulted in one fatality.
Findings
No specific findings regarding the mechanical or aerodynamic cause were provided in the source, though the sequence of events notes the aircraft was operating with a full 1800 kg load during the final takeoff attempt.