CANBERRA, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A cockpit warning likely distracted a pilot moments before an agricultural aircraft crashed fatally during a crop-spraying run in Australia last year, a report has revealed.
The accident occurred on Feb. 10, 2024 in Bourke of the Australian state of New South Wales, when the Air Tractor AT-502 began its first spray run of the day, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report released on Friday.
Although the spray system was activated, investigators found no flow of herbicide was recorded, likely triggering a warning on the pilot's GPS-based spray guidance display, according to the ATSB investigation.
The report said the pilot's attention was probably momentarily drawn to the warning, and the aircraft inadvertently descended, with both landing gear wheels striking an irrigation levee.
The plane flipped and came to rest inverted in a cotton field. The pilot, the sole occupant, was killed, and the aircraft was destroyed, it said.
Final data showed the aircraft was flying just seven feet above ground at about 115 knots. Shortly after this point, the aircraft contacted the ground.
"Given the limited height and time available during low-level operations, even a momentary change in focus of attention can have a significant consequence," said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
He urged pilots to climb the aircraft to a safe height before troubleshooting unexpected alerts during low-level operations. ■