Moa Creek - Moa Creek

On April 6, 1989 at 03:54 PM, Moa Creek - Moa Creek experienced a crash involving Fletcher FU-24, operated by Central Airspread, with the event recorded near Moa Creek Otago Regional Council.

The flight was categorized as spraying (agricultural) and the reported phase was takeoff (climb) at a mountains crash site.

1 people were known to be on board, 1 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 1, crew fatalities: 1, passengers on board: 0, passenger fatalities: 0, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The student agricultural pilot was operating under the supervision of an instructor. The aircraft had just taken off and was turning in the valley to gain height in order to clear high terrain which lay between the airstrip and the sowing area. Witnesses heard the engine misfire and saw the aircraft lose height while turning to avoid some high ground, collide with the hillside, and catch fire. The pilot, sole on board, was killed. The aircraft was destroyed.

Aircraft reference details include registration ZK-CTO, MSN 131, year of manufacture 1966.