Cessna 404, VH-SBG, Kowanyama, Queensland, on 25 January 1990

Circumstances:

During the take-off run, as power was being increased, the nose wheel broke through the runway surface and the nose gear leg collapsed. The central area of sections of the runway had previously been filled with coarse river gravel. This fill had then been overlaid with finer material and bonded with an oily fluid. When the aircraft broke through the top crust, the wheels sank readily into the gravel, and the nose leg was torn from the aircraft.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The runway surface was of inadequate strength for the operation.

2. Overload failure of nose gear mounting. This accident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.