Inquiries & Recommendations

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ZK-EMZ was engaged in spraying a potato crop. Towards the completion of the task ZK-EMZ dived into the ground during a turn. The pilot received fatal injuries in the accident.

At a height of 40 feet on the approach the pilot detected a wind shift and as he banked the aircraft to compensate for this the rudder control cable broke near the control column. The rudder, which is controlled by the control column, deflected hard right and the aircraft banked steeply to the right at which time the aircraft collided with the ground.

The aircraft was returning to Gore Aerodrome from a private airstrip. A local farmer observed the aircraft pass over the property about 400 feet above ground level, in normal cruising flight. Shortly afterwards it rolled to the left and entered a steep dive from which it was not recovered. The two occupants received fatal injuries in the ensuing ground impact.