Fletcher FU-24 crash, Aug 30, 1997, Fairlie
Fletcher FU-24 accident on August 30, 1997 near Fairlie, Canterbury Regional Council, New Zealand with no fatalities. Cause: Downdraught encountered...
- Date: August 30, 1997
- Aircraft: Fletcher FU-24
- Location: Fairlie, Canterbury Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: En route
- Cause: Downdraught encountered during a turn at low level, with an aggressive forward control input and turning flight path that made the load jettison ineffective; the pilot was inexperienced.
A topdressing Fletcher FU-24 was turning onto a sowing run near Fairlie at about 300 feet when a downdraught reduced airspeed. The pilot pushed forward and turned toward lower ground, and the jettison was ineffective, so the left wing struck the ground and the aircraft flipped. The pilot, who had completed training only the day before, was unhurt.