Collision with terrain - Cessna 210, VH-TWP, Nyirripi (ALA), Northern Territory, on 18 April 2012

At about 1200 Central Standard Time on 18 April 2012 at the Nyirripi aircraft landing area (ALA) Northern Territory, a Cessna Aircraft Company 210 (Centurion), registered VH-TWP (TWP), was seriously damaged while attempting to land. The supervisory pilot was seriously injured and the pilot in command under supervision sustained minor injuries.

On landing, the aircraft ballooned twice. The supervisory pilot took control of the aircraft with the intent of recovering from the balloon to a normal landing. A gust of wind caused the aircraft to yaw significantly to the left, the supervisory pilot applied full power to go-around, but the aircraft did not climb. He then rolled the aircraft into a 30º right bank to remain over clear ground, closer to the runway.

Realising that the aircraft was going to impact the ground, the supervisory pilot rolled the wings level. The aircraft impacted fairly hard and skidded about 100 m before coming to rest north of the runway and about 600 m from the threshold.

The aircraft operator has issued guidance notes to all flight crew regarding windshear recognition and recovery, as well as a reminder of information in the procedures manual.

This accident demonstrates that should an approach become unstable, conducting a go-around early may be the safest course of action. A Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre report noted that not all dust devils are visible and that they pose a major hazard to light aircraft during landing.