The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released the report of its findings on Tuesday following an investigation into the incident that fortunately left the pilot with only a minor injury despite “substantial damage” to the aircraft.

The pilot of the Cessna 206, believed to be a 22 year old man, was performing a return solo training flight from Bankstown to Cootamundra and landed here at about 9.43am on October 16.

He reported 100 litres of fuel remaining in the right tank and 85 litres in the left; about 12 litres less than expected.

He left Cootamundra at 10.22am and at around 11am observed the aircraft had deviated from his planned track.

In attempting to track direct to Bindook he took up a heading of about 120°, which was a further deviation from the planned track.

At about 11.14am and at 5,500 feet above ground level, the aircraft’s engine surged and then stopped. 

The pilot conducted emergency checks and sighted a suitable landing area, however the aircraft collided with trees about 50 metres short of the intended landing site.

The aircraft owners attended the accident site and reported an unusable amount of fuel remained in the right tank and none in the left. 

“This incident highlights the importance of thorough pre-flight planning and monitoring and reassessing actual versus planned flight tracks and aircraft fuel consumption,” the report states.