On Saturday 27 March 1999 at about 1435 hours ZK-EMV, a Fletcher FU24-954, had taken off from a grass airstrip on a routine sowing run, 5 km south-west of Riversdale in the Wairarapa, when it was observed to sink rapidly before hitting a fence. After hitting the fence the aircraft ballooned up and rolled, striking the ground inverted. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot died as a result of the second impact.
No new safety issues were identified during the investigation.