The pilot had not been to Ashton before, but had been given comprehensive information regarding the strip location. During the flight he experienced communications problems due to poor HF radio conditions. Shortly before his estimated arrival time, the pilot saw a strip in the kind of surroundings he expected for Ashton. He made an inspection of the strip and was satisfied that it was suitable. He was still having communications difficulties, and this diverted his attention to some extent. During the landing roll the left main wheel struck a log concealed in grass which was longer than the pilot had expected. He later learned that the strip, which was some 10 kilometres from his intended destination, was not in current use. This accident was not the subject of an on scene investigation.

Circumstances:

The aircraft had departed Cowra to return to Hoxton Park but as it was passing Lake Wyangala a cabin door became unfastened. The pilot then decided to return to Cowra to rectify the problem. The weather at Cowra was reported as fine with a variable wind gusting to 10 knots. The pilot said the approach was normal, but as the aircraft entered the landing flare a gust of wind caused the aircraft to balloon. The aircraft then touched down but began a series of bounces, culminating in the nose landing gear collapsing. The aircraft then slid a short distance before coming to a halt on the strip.

The pilot was engaged in spraying a wheat crop. Two large trees, 18 metres apart, were situated in the centre of the paddock and the pilot intended to fly between the trees during one of the spray runs. He positioned the aircraft to fly under overhanging foliage and as close as possible to the tree on his right. As the aircraft passed the tree the right wing struck a dead branch. The pilot was able to maintain control of the aircraft and subsequently landed at the DEPARTURE strip. The pilot had failed to notice the dead branch protruding beneath the foliage of the tree.

Circumstances:

The pilot reported that there had been recent heavy rain on the strip. Well into the landing roll, the aircraft encountered an area of water and skidded to the left. The left wheel then entered soft ground and swung the aircraft further left, resulting in the left main landing gear striking a steel framed cone marker. This accident was not the subject of an on-site investigation.

The aircraft was observed to depart Bankstown without a clearance or contact with Bankstown Tower. It was reported that the aircraft was being flown erratically. An uncertainty phase was declared and the progress of the aircraft monitored by radar until contact was lost in the Bringelly area at about 0635 hours. At about that time the aircraft was observed to descend steeply, before striking trees at high speed. It then commenced disintegrating before impacting the ground with great force and came to rest, on fire, in a small dam. The bodies of both occupants were found some distance from the main wreckage.

The pilot had sprayed the paddock using a series of runs in an east-west direction, parallel to power lines along the property boundary. He then decided to do a clean-up run in a north-south direction, but forgot about the presence of the power lines. During the pull-up at the end of the run the aircraft flew into the wires and subsequently struck the ground heavily 219 metres further on.

The engine suffered a gradual power loss after take-off until the aircraft could no longer sustain level flight. During the subsequent attempted forced landing the aircraft stalled while the pilot was attempting to avoid obstructions. The only defect found on examination of the engine was a loose connection in the high tension lead from the left magneto to the number 1 cylinder. This, by itself, should not have caused as great a loss of power as was reported by the pilot. The aircraft was overloaded by some 70 kg and this would have contributed to the reduction in aircraft performance.

The aircraft was engaged in spraying a cotton crop. The spray runs were being flown into the west in the late afternoon. About three-quarters of the way into the treatment area a power line crossed the swath path at right angles . The line was carried on poles about 300 metres apart, and the aircraft had crossed under or over the line on about 8 occasions. With the sun shining directly into his eyes, the pilot found it difficult to see the markers. While concentrating on lining up the swath run, he temporarily forgot the presence of the power line. The aircraft collided with the cables and subsequently struck the ground in a steep nose-down attitude 57 metres beyond the run of the lines. The pilot sustained serious burn injuries in the post-impact fire which gutted the aircraft.

Following a period of dual instruction the pilot was authorised to carry out her second solo circuit and landing. During the landing flare the aircraft ballooned and subsequently touched down on the nosewheel. The aircraft bounced and on the next touchdown the nosewheel broke off, the nose gear leg was displaced and the aircraft slid to a halt on the runway. The pilot's previous training flight had been conducted approximately one month prior to the accident. After misjudging the landing flare, the pilot persisted with the landing attempt instead of going around.

Following a dual check, the pilot was authorised to carry out a series of solo circuits and landings. Two landings had been completed successfully, however the pilot advised that on the next approach the aircraft was affected by a wind gust. Appropriate corrections were made, but another gust was encountered and the pilot applied power in order to go around. Almost immediately afterwards the left wingtip contacted the ground, followed by the left mainwheel. The nose gear collapsed when it struck the ground and the aircraft came to rest at right angles to the strip direction. The wind at the time was generally down the strip at about 10 knots, with gusts to about 15 knots. The pilot had flown successfully in similar conditions in the past, but on this occasion had not been able to react sufficiently quickly when the left wing dropped.