Collision with terrain involving a Cessna T188C/A2, VH-MQR, 10 km west of Moree Aerodrome, New South Wales, on 15 March 1997

The pilot was carrying out spraying operations and had already spread two hopper loads of spray medium onto a cotton crop. Weather conditions were fine with clear skies and light winds from the north-north-east. The hopper was again filled, and two swathe runs were completed. The pilot reported that on the third swathe run, he left the pull-up manoeuvre to clear trees too late, and the aircraft's propeller collided with branches.

The aircraft initially gained about 100 ft following the collision, however, it then commenced to lose height. The pilot quickly realised that the impact had caused damage resulting in a loss of power and/or thrust. In an attempt to improve the aircraft's climb performance, he selected the dump valve to the fully open position and jettisoned the remaining hopper contents. This action failed to arrest the sink rate of the aircraft and it subsequently stalled into trees and collided with the ground. Whilst the pilot escaped with minor bruising, the aircraft was consumed by fire.