At about 1522 hours on Friday 23 August 1996 ZK-EGQ, a Fletcher FU24-950, was on a routine sowing run, 16 km south-west of Motueka, when its left wing struck a lone pine tree damaging the left aileron. Control difficulties resulted and the aircraft collided with the face of a steep ridge. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot lost his life in the accident. No new safety deficiencies were revealed.
