An Air Tractor's flight path was under two consecutive powerlines when it turned to the right and collided with terrain while spraying on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula, an ATSB preliminary report details.
In the early afternoon of 8 September 2025, the single-seat Air Tractor AT-802A, operated by Aerotech Australia, had been spraying two fields on a property north of Cummins, the ATSB's preliminary report from the ongoing investigation of the accident explains.
The report details the positioning of electrical powerlines about 12 m above the ground in both fields, and the poles supporting them, and how the recorded data indicates the pilot typically navigated them.
"Data from the spray runs conducted on the day of the accident showed the pilot flew mostly under the powerlines when they ran perpendicular to the spray passes," ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said.
"The pilot occasionally flew over a powerline where there was a power pole, or where a wire ran adjacent to, or merged close to the edge of a field."
The report notes the field being sprayed featured a north-south powerline, which the pilot primarily flew under, and a west-south-west powerline.
"On the accident spray run, as the pilot flew in a westerly direction under the north-south powerline, the aircraft was tracking towards a pole which supported the west-south-west powerline, about 240 m away," Mr Mitchell said.
"Recorded data from the flight showed the pilot conducted a right turn underneath the second power line after which the aircraft collided with terrain."
The collision activated the aircraft's emergency locator transmitter, alerting the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre, which in turn contacted Airservices Australia and the operator.
Personnel from the operator and a local farm worker responded and found the aircraft wreckage about 15 minutes after the accident. The pilot was fatally injured and the aircraft was substantially damaged. There was no fire.
Examination of the accident site and wreckage by ATSB transport safety investigators found the aircraft had dragged a main wheel, spray boom and wingtip through the crop just prior to the impact with terrain. Numerous indicators such as debris locations and damage signatures to the airframe indicated the aircraft impacted terrain in an inverted orientation.
The report notes there was no evidence of pre-impact defects with the flight controls or aircraft structure.
As well as onsite activities, Mr Mitchell said ATSB investigators have also conducted interviews, collected documentation, and begun the analysis of recovered recorded data from the aircraft.
"As the investigation progresses, we will continue to examine several sources of recorded data, and review and analyse aircraft documentation and operational records, as well as the pilot's medical records, qualifications and experience," he said.
"The investigation will also consider aerial application standard practices and safety equipment."
The ATSB will release a final report, which will detail findings and the analysis to support them, at the conclusion of the investigation.
You can find here the preliminary report: Collision with terrain involving Air Tractor AT-802, VH-ODX, 17 km north of Cummins Town aerodrome, South Australia, on 8 September 2025
