Runway excursion

The pilot was landing on the westerly strip at McCaffrey Field with 10 knots of wind from the north (all cross wind). During the round out for landing, the aircraft ballooned, and the pilot pushed the nose down and at the same time retracted the air brakes. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose down attitude and bounced. It then veered left under the influence of the cross wind and bounced again, before running into the boundary fence.

The pilot was conducting a landing on a grass strip. During the landing roll the glider overran the strip end and struck a wire perimeter fence.

A report by the Gliding Federation of Australia indicated that the pilot did not compensate for the prevailing wind when executing the approach.

The pilot reported that as he entered the circuit area light rain was falling, associated with a light and variable wind from the southeast. He carried out a right circuit for a landing approach to runway 07, reducing speed to about 90 kts as the aircraft passed over the threshold. However, the aircraft floated before touching down about a quarter distance along the strip. The brakes were applied but were ineffective in slowing the aircraft. Concerned that he would overrun the strip and the highway beyond, the pilot deliberately ground looped the aircraft to the right. The left main and nose landing gears collapsed during the turn, before the aircraft came to rest against the perimeter fence.

The pilot subsequently learned that it had rained heavily prior to his arrival and thought his aircraft may have aquaplaned on the wet runway surface.

The pilot had undertaken a private flight from Port Pirie intending to land at a property. When he arrived in the general area, he saw an airstrip with a vehicle parked nearby and believing that he had arrived at his destination commenced an approach for landing.

After the aircraft had touched down the pilot realised the airstrip was not suitable for the operation but was committed to continue with the landing.

The aircraft over-ran the end of the airstrip with the left wing striking a tree causing damage to the wingtip and displacing the spar rearwards. The pilot being the only occupant was uninjured.

A anonymous ground witness observed the Cessna 206 overfly the windsock before commencing an approach to land on the north westerly strip. Most of the time there appeared to be a 20-knot crosswind from the left, but occasionally the wind swung so that there was a tailwind component. The witness advised that after touching down about 100 metres into the 490-metre strip, the aircraft bounced once and floated until almost two thirds down the strip where, after touching down again, the brakes appeared to be applied. Shortly after the brakes were applied, the wheels appeared to lock causing loss of directional control. The aircraft departed the centreline to the right, struck bushes about 70 metres from the end of the strip and overturned.

According to the pilot, he performed a normal short field approach and landing uphill on the 310 degree strip with the wind 220 degrees gusting from 10 to 15 knots and the aircraft touched down near the threshold without bouncing or floating. During the landing roll the pilot believed that the wind changed to provide a significant tailwind component which made the aircraft difficult to slow down and control. The pilot did not attempt a go-around.

The student pilot was engaged in a solo cross training flight at the time of the accident. As he was approaching the aerodrome he reported that he checked the windsock and noticed that the wind appeared to be from the north-east at approximately 10 knots. The pilot entered the circuit area and completed an approach and landing on runway 07. The aircraft touched down, on the gravel centre section, approximately 300m in from the threshold of the 1221m long strip.

The pilot observed that the aircraft was not slowing as fast as expected and he applied full braking. When it became apparent that the aircraft would not stop by the boundary fence the pilot shut the engine down and attempted to steer the aircraft to the right, on to the grass and away from the fence.

The left wing collided with a fence post, swinging the aircraft through 140 degrees and the aircraft stopped on the gravel verge of a two-lane road with the right wing blocking one lane.

As the pilot exited the aircraft, he observed that the windsock indicated a tailwind of approximately 20 knots on runway 07.

The aircraft did not accelerate normally during the take-off roll. The pilot elected to reject the take-off but the aircraft overran the end of the runway. During the overrun, the nosewheel was torn off.

The pilot reported that post-accident inspection indicated the strip surface was softer than expected. This retarded the aircraft's acceleration.

The aircraft had touched down, following the third circuit, when it began to yaw right into the crosswind. The pilot applied full left rudder and some power, but the aircraft did not respond. The aircraft continued to yaw right, and the left-wing tip touched the ground. The pilot closed the throttle, but the aircraft continued off the runway and on to the grass flight strip. The left wing struck a runway distance-to-run marker before the aircraft came to a stop.

It was reported that there was a five knot crosswind from the right at the time of the landing.

The temperature was about 37 degrees, a light wind was blowing straight down runway 25 and there were thermals in the area. A dual check flight of 30 minutes of circuits on runway 25 was completed with an instructor. The instructor then sent the pilot to do two solo circuits.

On the first approach for runway 25 the pilot made a touchdown in the three point attitude. After a short ground roll the right wing lifted, apparently due to an encounter with a thermal and the aircraft swung right. Left aileron and rudder and a small amount of engine power were applied but this did not prevent the aircraft from overturning.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. Thermal encountered at a critical time.

2. Pilot probably too slow to react to the effects of the thermal.

The pilot had been engaged in fire spotting. On returning to land he assessed the wind conditions, via the windsock and smoke drift, and proceeded to land into wind. On touchdown a wind gust caused the aircraft to drift to the right where it encountered soft soil. The aircraft veered further to the right until the leading edge of the right wing impacted the windsock pole.

Significant Factors

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the accident:

1. The aircraft encountered a wind gust on touchdown.

2. The aircraft encountered soft ground on the landing roll when it veered to the right.