Investigation number
199301997
Occurrence date
State
Western Australia
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Collision with terrain
Occurrence class
Accident

The pilot was conducting his first take off on the strip. The fully loaded aircraft did not accelerate to flying speed by the end of the strip. The pilot had looked out of the cockpit to identify another company aircraft operating in the same area whilst his aircraft was accelerating down the strip. When he eventually found the other aircraft and returned his attention to the aircraft performance, the pilot determined that the aircraft would not clear the obstacles at the end of the paddock, so he commenced a load dump. He attempted to fly the aircraft over the obstacles, but it hit the tops of several low trees and a fence before colliding with a more substantial tree which swung the aircraft around and caused the right undercarriage leg to collapse. The pilot felt that long grass and soft earth combined with the maximum all up weight of the aircraft to reduce its take off performance. He had thought, from his initial inspection, that there was sufficient length available for take off from the point where he commenced his take off roll.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
A188B
Registration
VH-DUQ
Sector
Piston
Departure point
28km W Wubin WA
Destination
28km W Wubin WA
Damage
Substantial