The aircraft, with the student pilot at the controls, took-off
and climbed to 500 feet and then turned left as it was intended to
carry out a normal circuit. The take-off was made into the east on
the single strip and into a wind from the east at a speed of 10-15
knots. When the aircraft had reached about 600 feet the engine
faltered and the power was reduced to 2300 RPM with the engine
vibrating spasmodically. Application of carburettor heat did not
improve the performance of the engine. When the aircraft had
climbed to about 700 feet the instructor took over control, decided
to make a downwind landing and turned the aircraft to the Bight in
order to fly back across wind preparatory to landing. After flying
across wind and turning back again an "S" turn was made to line up
with the direction of the strip. The aircraft crossed the end of
the strip, which is 2,700 feet long, at about 400 feet above the
ground and only touched down briefly near the far end of the strip.
The pilot then attempted to conduct a go-around using all the
engine power remaining but speed was slow and the engine power
decayed to about 1600 RPM. He then decided to land in a paddock.
The aircraft was pulled up over trees and a power line on the
paddock boundary and then sank,landing heavily on the port main
wheel and nose wheel. The nose undercarriage leg detached and after
sliding a short distance the aircraft overturned.
