The pilot was called out at about 0400 hours local time for an urgent medical flight from Wynyard to Melbourne. This required positioning the aircraft from its base at Devonport to Wynyard. The take-off from Devonport was made in darkness with an overcast sky and light drizzle. The aircraft then apparently continued on the take-off heading at high power and low level until it struck the ground at high speed in a forest area 25 km south of Wynyard and 56 km from Devonport. The cause of the accident could not be determined but the possibility of pilot incapacitation could not be discounted.
