CANBERRA, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- A pilot has died after a light plane crashed during agricultural spraying operations in the state of South Australia (SA) on Monday.
SA Police said in a statement on Monday night that the crash occurred in fields near the small town of Yeelanna, 275 km west of the state capital of Adelaide, at around 1:30 p.m. local time.
The pilot and sole occupant, a 36-year-old man, died at the scene.
Major crash investigators were deployed on Monday night to examine the circumstances surrounding the crash, SA Police said, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will also investigate the incident.
A statement from the ATSB said that the Air Tractor agricultural aircraft collided with terrain while spraying crops.
It said that ATSB investigators specializing in aircraft operations would be sent to the site to gather evidence and examine the wreckage. Aircraft components recovered from the scene will be examined at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra. ■
