Investigation number
198702414
Occurrence date
Location
Bankstown
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Hard landing
Occurrence class
Accident
Highest injury level
None

At the completion of a flight in the training area, the pilot returned for a full stop landing on the duty runway. A preceding aircraft in the circuit advised the Tower that sun glare would soon be a problem for landing aircraft. Immediate steps were taken by the Controller to change the duty runway, and VH-FST was to be the last aircraft to use the runway in question. The pilot later advised that as she flared the aircraft for landing, all forward visibility was lost because of sun glare. The aircraft touched down heavily and bounced several times, causing the nosegear to collapse. Although affected by the sun glare, the pilot had decided to continue with the landing, as she had not previously attempted a go around in conditions of limited forward visibility. The Tower Controller had been unaware of the sun glare hazard until the problem had been identified by the pilot of a landing aircraft.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
152
Registration
VH-FST
Serial number
15282337
Operation type
Flying Training
Departure point
Bankstown NSW
Departure time
1505
Destination
Bankstown NSW
Damage
Substantial