Fletcher FU-24 crash, Sep 8, 2001, Waiotira
Fletcher FU-24 accident on September 8, 2001 near Waiotira, Northland Regional Council, New Zealand with no fatalities. Cause: Soft airstrip...
- Date: September 8, 2001
- Aircraft: Fletcher FU-24
- Location: Waiotira, Northland Regional Council, New Zealand
- Fatalities: 0
- Phase of flight: Takeoff and climb
- Cause: Soft airstrip conditions, a quartering tailwind and underslung spreader equipment degraded performance, and the aircraft could not be controlled after striking a fence.
The Fletcher agricultural aircraft was loaded at a farm airstrip near Waiotira. Soft strip conditions, a quartering tailwind and underslung spreader gear left it unable to climb within the strip length. After jettisoning the load it struck a fence and the ground, and the pilot was seriously injured.