Hard landing involving a Cessna A150M, VH-TCO, Canberra Airport, Australian Capital Territory, on 12 October 1997

The pilot was conducting circuits on runway 30 in conditions of strong northwesterly winds gusting to 25 knots. During the approach the pilot elected to keep the engine RPM higher than normal to counter the strong winds. During the final stages of the approach to landing, the rate of descent increased significantly, and the aircraft experienced some mechanical turbulence. While the pilot concentrated on keeping the wings level, the nose of the aircraft dropped, and the aircraft landed heavily on the runway. The nose wheel strut failed, the propeller contacted the ground, and the aircraft skidded to a stop on the runway having sustained substantial damage. The pilot then evacuated the aircraft.

The pilot later stated that he was concentrating on the landing and did not consider going around. Skid marks on the runway indicated that the aircraft touched down with some sideways drift which would have put side loads on the landing gear.

A significant factor in this accident is the pilot's continuation of the landing in conditions which exceeded his ability.