Piper PA-25-235, VH-PPV, "Nareena" (20 km south of Bathurst), New South Wales, on 3 May 1990

Circumstances:

The pilot, who was relatively inexperienced, was engaged in pasture spraying, operating from an airstrip located on the property being sprayed. He had been on duty approximately seven hours when commencing his nineteenth flight. After take-off, the pilot initiated a shallow climbing turn onto a southerly heading, affording himself little time in which to review his flight pattern before gaining alignment for the spray run. He began spraying at tree height until the area became sufficiently open to permit descent to about one metre above ground level. Approaching the fence which formed the southern boundary of the treatment area, the pilot initiated a climbing turn to the right, to follow a "racetrack" pattern. Soon after commencing the turn the pilot realised that the aircraft could not climb fast enough to maintain clearance from the hill beginning on the southern side of the treatment area. The pilot dumped the hopper load, and with full throttle attempted to turn across the face of the hill. The aircraft mushed onto the hillside, coming to rest 41 metres from the initial impact and 150 metres from the fence pull-up point. A left turn following pull-up would have taken the aircraft over lower terrain.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The pilot turned toward terrain, the gradient of which exceeded the performance capability of the aircraft.

2. The pilot gave himself insufficient time for adequate flight review.

3. The pilot may have been subject to some skill fatigue.