Runway excursion involving a Cessna A185F, VH-JCR, Albury, New South Wales, on 13 December 1994

The temperature was about 37 degrees, a light wind was blowing straight down runway 25 and there were thermals in the area. A dual check flight of 30 minutes of circuits on runway 25 was completed with an instructor. The instructor then sent the pilot to do two solo circuits.

On the first approach for runway 25 the pilot made a touchdown in the three point attitude. After a short ground roll the right wing lifted, apparently due to an encounter with a thermal and the aircraft swung right. Left aileron and rudder and a small amount of engine power were applied but this did not prevent the aircraft from overturning.

Significant Factors

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

1. Thermal encountered at a critical time.

2. Pilot probably too slow to react to the effects of the thermal.