Wirestrike involving a Piper PA-36-375, VH-HLR, Wire Lagoon Property, 28 km north-east of Wee Waa, New South Wales

The aircraft was conducting cotton spraying operations on a 61 hectare field. The pilot stated that he had completed numerous swath runs, using a human marker for guidance, when it became necessary to fly beneath power lines converging at the southern corner of the field. He then completed a pass under the power lines in a south easterly direction and carried out an extended procedure turn to facilitate the next pass under the wires. He said he could then see the marker moving off to the next swath position.

The aircraft was positioned to pass beneath the powerlines at a speed of about 100 knots with a power pole to the right and the marker to the left, and moving left. As the pilot passed the power pole he heard a loud thudding noise, associated with a left yaw. The pilot said that he thought at the time he had clipped the power pole, but as he regained control of the aircraft, he noticed the left wing was damaged. Shortly after, he noticed the marker lying in an irrigation ditch, near where she had been standing. The marker was killed as a result of being struck by the aircraft.