A Cessna 337C aircraft and pilot were hired by federal and state officers completing an aerial inspection 45 km east of Albany on 13 March 1996. The flight departed Albany airport at 9am and it is believed the accident occurred between 9.20am and 9.25am.

The pilot was conducting a low-level inspection of the area in question to aid the inspection. The pilot was flying the aircraft in a steep, right turn at a slow speed when both engines lost power. As no fuel blockages were found, the most probable reason for the loss of power was the prolonged, unbalanced, right turn, which stopped the fuel feed to the right fuel sump from the right main tank. In less than three minutes, all useable fuel in the sump had been consumed and the engine stopped.

The loss of power led to a loss of control and the pilot was unable to recover the situation prior to impact.

All four people on the plane died in the accident.