Collision with terrain involving a Piper Aircraft Corp PA-25-235, VH-AMA, Upper Daradgee, QLD on 23 September 1993

The pilot had been spraying a plantation of fully developed banana trees which had vertical irrigation sprinklers protruding about 1 m above the canopy. The next area to be treated was in a hollow and consisted of half grown trees with the sprinkler heads protruding about 2.5 m. The pilot reported that as he attempted to arrest the rate of descent after flying down into the hollow, the left wing struck one of the sprinkler heads. The aircraft immediately rolled left and struck a number of other sprinklers. The pilot was unable to regain control and the aircraft struck the ground. The engine was torn from the airframe and both wings separated during the impact sequence. The cockpit area remained largely intact. There was no fire.