Loss of Control on Landing – Air Tractor AT-504 at Baralaba, Queensland, Australia – October 23, 2024

Date:

October 23, 2024

Time:

09:30 LT

Type of Aircraft:

Air Tractor AT-504

Owner/Operator:

Moura Aerial Agriculture

Registration:

VH-FFS

MSN:

504-4009

Year of Manufacture:

2011

Engine Model:

Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG

Fatalities:

0 / Occupants: 1

Aircraft Damage:

Destroyed

Location:

Baralaba, QLD – Australia

Phase:

Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)

Nature:

Agricultural

Circumstances:

An Air Tractor AT-504 agricultural aircraft, operated by Moura Aerial Agriculture, was involved in an accident near Baralaba, Queensland, while conducting agricultural operations. The pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was attempting to land when a foreign object became lodged between the rudder pedals. This interference caused a loss of control, leading to the aircraft colliding with terrain.

Following the impact, the aircraft caught fire and was subsequently destroyed. Despite the severity of the crash and the ensuing fire, the pilot, a man in his 30s, managed to extricate himself from the wreckage with only minor injuries. He was airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital in a stable condition for precautionary spinal treatment and scanning.

Emergency services responded to the scene, containing the fire that had spread to the surrounding grassland. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the accident to determine the exact sequence of events and the nature of the foreign object that interfered with the aircraft’s controls.

This incident highlights the inherent risks associated with agricultural aviation and the importance of thorough pre-flight checks and maintenance procedures to minimize the risk of foreign object interference.