The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into an accident involving an Air Tractor agricultural aircraft at Yeelanna, on South Australia’s Lower Eyre Peninsula, on Monday afternoon.
As reported to the ATSB, the aircraft collided with terrain during agricultural spraying operations.
The ATSB will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Canberra and Melbourne offices, specialising in aircraft operations and engineering, to the accident site.
Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
Investigators will also seek to interview relevant parties, and collect any recorded information including available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation. Should a critical safety issue be identified during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties, so that appropriate safety action can be taken.