At about 1330 hours on 21st January, 1961, Cessna 180 aircraft VH-TTU stalled and crashed in mountainous terrain 7 miles south-east of Tumut, New South Wales.
The aircraft, owned and operated "by Tumut Air Taxi Service Pty.Ltd., was being flown by William Edward Gill on aerial agricultural operations spreading superphosphate. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed.
The aircraft disintegrated on impact and was further damaged by fire. A substantial acreage of bushland was destroyed.
W.E. Gill, 37 years of age, was the holder of Commercial Pilot Licence No.4041* His total aeronautical experience was 1040 hours of which 456 hours v/ere in Cessna 180 aircraft. He had flown 155*15 hours on agricultural flying in the period March - July, I960, and a further 50 hours in January, 1961.
The aircraft was operating under valid certificates of airworthiness, registration, and maintenance release. Charter and Aerial Work Licence No. 232 was valid.
There was no evidence of any pre-crash defect or malfunctioning which may have contributed to the accident.
After take-off the aircraft had to be climbed approximately 1600 feet to the spreading site and on all previous flights the pilot had gained height before setting course. On this flight he set course shortly after becoming airborne and headed up a blind valley towards the spreading site. The aircraft failed to outclimb the terrain and during a 180 degree turn in a confined area the aircraft stalled and crashed. The cause of the accident was that the pilot misjudged the rate of climb of the aircraft which was insufficient to enable it to clear the rising terrain.