AIR TRACTOR AT-502

Full Narrative

On October 3, 2009, at 1130 Western Standard Time, an Air Tractor AT-502, VH-ODP, operated by Agricair Pty Limited, as an agricultural flight collided with the ground while maneuvering 47 Km east northeast of Narrogin, Australia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was killed. The flight originated from Wikepin, Australia, at an unknown time.

Australian investigators reported that the airplane took off from a paddock on a property to conduct agricultural spraying operations. A short time later, the owner of the property discovered the wreckage, which had impacted the ground in an inverted attitude. There were no witnesses to the accident.

The investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). This report is for information purposes only and contains only information released by ATSB. Further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from:

Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
P.O. Box 967, Civic Square
Canberra, A.C.T. 2608
Australia

Investigator-In-Charge:
John Donnellan
Phone: +61262747439
Fax: +61262746434