Beechcraft V35-AMk2 Bonanza, VH-ILJ, Goonyella, Queensland, on 12 December 1989

Circumstances:

The pilot had been unable to obtain details of the strip before his departure for the area. On arrival he conducted an inspection of the strip from 500 feet. He noticed that there was no windsock and that a power line had been installed across the northern end since his previous visit. He also noted that the strip changed colour along its length and that vehicles had been driving along it. After this inspection he conducted a landing from the south. On touchdown he saw a bank where the traffic path entered the strip. As it was then too late to initiate a go-around the pilot tried to avoid the bank. This was not successful and the nose gear leg was broken off on colliding with the bank which was about 1.5 metres high. It was determined that the landing area had been de-commissioned about a year earlier.

Significant Factors:

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

1. The pilot did not obtain information from the strip owner or permission to land at the strip.
2. The pilot did not conduct an adequate inspection of the intended landing area.
3. The aircraft was landed on an unsuitable area.