Collision with terrain - Piper PA-46-310P, VH-FAL, Meekatharra Airport, Western Australia, on 15 June 2011

At 0720 Western Standard Time on 15 June 2011, a Piper Aircraft PA-46-310P Malibu, registered VH-FAL, departed from Doolgunna Station, on a private flight to Meekatharra WA, with the pilot and one passenger on board.

While on finals to land at Meekatharra, the pilot initiated a go-around due to another aircraft occupying the runway.

On the downwind leg of the second approach, the engine lost power and the aircraft impacted terrain about 500 m short of the runway threshold. Both occupants sustained injuries.

The pilot stated that his usual actions were to set the aircraft fuel selector to the fullest fuel tank for take-off, then manage the fuel balance by appropriate tank selection during the flight. He stated that as this process was routine for him, he could not actually recall having made a change to the tank selection during the flight

To ensure the safe conduct of a flight, it is crucial that pilots establish a disciplined cockpit routine that covers all critical aspects of in-flight management.