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Date:
January 29, 2025
Time:
11:00 LT
Type of Aircraft:
DJI Agras T50
Owner/Operator:
Private
Registration:
[Not specified]
MSN:
[Not specified]
Year of Manufacture:
[Not specified]
Engine Model:
[Not specified]
Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: 0
Other Fatalities:
0
Aircraft Damage:
Destroyed
Location:
Mount Compass, SA – Australia
Phase:
Manoeuvring (Agricultural Operations)
Nature:
Agricultural
Departure Airport:
[Not specified]
Destination Airport:
[Not specified]
Confidence Rating:
Information is only available from news, social media, or unofficial sources
Circumstances:
A privately operated DJI Agras T50 crop-spraying drone crashed into power lines near Mount Compass, South Australia, sparking a significant grass fire. The incident occurred during agricultural operations on Nangkita Road, east of Mount Compass.
Witnesses reported the drone colliding with power lines around 11:30 AM, causing an immediate loss of electricity in the area and igniting a fire that rapidly spread through a dairy farmer’s paddock. The blaze came within 50 meters of a residential property, threatening nearby homes.
Local residents described seeing smoke billowing from the hillside, with one bystander exclaiming, “Get a load of this… It was caused by a f*** drone!”* Firefighters from the Country Fire Service (CFS) responded swiftly, deploying ground crews and water bombers to contain the fire. Mild weather conditions aided efforts to prevent further escalation.
The fire reduced the paddock to ash but caused no injuries. The drone, destroyed in the crash, was recovered by investigators to determine the cause of the incident. Authorities are examining factors such as operational procedures, potential technical malfunctions, and compliance with aviation regulations for agricultural drones.
This incident underscores the growing risks associated with drone operations near critical infrastructure and the importance of stringent safety protocols for unmanned aerial systems.
Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.