Summary
The area to be seeded was a flooded rice paddy, rectangular in shape and approximately 1650 feet
east/west by 800 feet north/south, with the western bank 95 feet to the east of a river. There was an
extensive area of dense timber, generally about 70 feet in height, on the western side of the river and a line
of trees along the eastern bank. After making an aerial inspection of the area the pilot arranged for the two
men who were to act as markers to take up positions on the banks of the paddy in preparation for easterly and
westerly seeding runs commencing along the southern side.
The aircraft commenced a steep descent, with the wings level, consistent
with an approach for a seeding run to the east. A few seconds later, when about 250 feet short of the rice
paddy, the aircraft struck the sparsely foliated upper branches of a tree which extended about 20 feet above
the other trees in the vicinity and the starboard elevator was torn off. With no apparent power reduction, and
little change of direction, the aircraft rolled steeply to the left, descended and, after travelling a further
150 feet, struck another tree on the eastern side of the river. The wings and empennage were torn off
and the fuselage fell through the tree to the ground and burst into flames.
