Cessna A188B/A1, VH-FZC, 20 km south-west of Bowen, Queensland

The pilot was spraying a tomato crop at the time of the accident. A set of three powerlines ran along the edge of the field at approximately 20 degrees to the direction of flight. It was reported that the pilot had been turning left off his spray runs and, on this occasion, the right wing had collided with the three wires from below during the start of the turn. The tip of the right wing struck the wires first. The aircraft then appeared to have rolled right and struck the ground with the right wing, cartwheeling until it came to a stop. The engine bay was destroyed decreasing the occupiable space in the cockpit. The pilot was still conscious when he was pulled from the left side of the wreckage. He was wearing a helmet which had been retained during the crash sequence and had suffered facial injuries as well as broken limbs. His visor appeared to have been up at impact.

The sun angle was off to the pilot's left by about 45 degrees and about 30 degrees above the horizon. It was reported that the wires were shiny with reflected light, immediately after the accident, and they should have been visible from the direction of flight.

It is probable that the pilot misjudged his clearance from the powerlines during the turn.