Operational Details
On the day of the accident, flight operations began at approximately 06:30, with the student pilot flying and the instructor operating the loader. The plan was to fly for two hours before a break for resting the trainee pilot, checking fuel, and reviewing the sowing progress. Shortly before 08:20, the trainee pilot took off on what was about the twentieth sowing flight of the day. The Fletcher was loaded with 19 hundredweight (cwt), equivalent to 965 kg, of lime in the hopper.
Accident Sequence
The aircraft flew its usual pattern and was positioned for a sowing run along a ridge face at about 100 feet above ground level (AGL). During this run, however, no lime was dropped. At approximately the usual commencement point for sowing, the aircraft made a sharp left turn and flew out over level ground, away from the ridge. After turning through about 120 degrees, the airplane suddenly pitched nose-down and dived almost vertically into the ground. It bounced over a hedge and came to rest 10 meters beyond the initial point of impact.
Post-Impact Conditions
Despite the spillage of considerable fuel, no fire broke out. The flying weather was calm with good visibility, and weather was not considered a factor in the accident.
Probable Cause
The official investigation stated: "No firm reason for the pilot to abandon his sowing run and make a steep turn away from the ridge could be found. It was noted that the change of heading took the plane on a course towards the sun and also a 100-ft-tall tree that may have caused the pilot to take abrupt avoiding action, causing the plane to stall and fall into an incipient spin from which control could not be regained owing to the limited height available."