Summary
During short final approach to land at the completion of a local scenic flight, the aircraft encountered excessive sink and a sudden increase in crosswind. As a result, the aircraft bounced heavily on the runway threshold. The pilot then elected to go around and immediately applied full power.
During the climb out he noticed that the wings appeared to be damaged inboard of the tip tanks. Both tanks were full at the time. A decision was then taken to divert to Archerfield where the runway direction would better suit the prevailing wind. An uneventful landing followed.
Post flight examination of the aircraft confirmed significant damage to both wings.
Occurrence summary
| Investigation number | 199602263 |
|---|---|
| Occurrence date | 13/07/1996 |
| Location | 3.5 km north of Mount Cotton |
| State | Queensland |
| Report release date | 26/07/1996 |
| Report status | Final |
| Investigation type | Occurrence Investigation |
| Investigation status | Completed |
| Mode of transport | Aviation |
| Aviation occurrence category | Hard landing |
| Occurrence class | Accident |
Aircraft details
| Manufacturer | Piper Aircraft Corp |
|---|---|
| Model | PA-32-300 |
| Registration | VH-PGB |
| Sector | Piston |
| Operation type | Private |
| Departure point | Mt Cotton QLD |
| Destination | Mt Cotton QLD |
| Damage | Substantial |