Runway excursion involving a Cirrus SR22, VH-SRI, at Great Lakes Airfield, Victoria, on 30 March 2014

On 30 March 2014, a Cirrus SR22, registered VH-SRI, was being operated to conduct a private flight from Tyabb to Great Lakes Airfield, Victoria with the pilot and one passenger on board. The flight was conducted in visual meteorological conditions.

During the cruise, the pilot assessed the wind at the airfield to be from the north-west and elected to land on runway 31, a shorter gravel runway, instead of the sealed longer runway 26 as initially planned.

The pilot reported that the approach and landing was normal. The aircraft touched down on the runway at the first white gable marker at about 1320 Eastern Daylight-saving Time. As the aircraft passed the intersection with runway 26/08, the pilot realised that the aircraft was not slowing quick enough to stop in the remaining runway available and so applied the brakes harder. The aircraft departed the end of the runway, went through the airport boundary fence and came to rest on a road. The pilot turned off the fuel and all switches and exited the aircraft with the passenger. The pilot and passenger were uninjured and the aircraft was substantially damaged.

The accident highlights the importance of thorough pre-flight planning to minimise safety critical decisions in flight, maintaining situational awareness, applying an appropriate safety margin to the landing distance including obstacle clearance and climb if a go around is required, confirming the runway length and wind direction prior to landing.

Aviation Short Investigations Bulletin - Issue 36