Runway excursion

The pilot, who had limited experience, stated that during the take-off run the aircraft started to drift to the left of the strip due to a gusting crosswind. The aircraft struck a runway marker and the take-off was aborted. The aircraft then ran off the runway and struck a pile of dirt.

The aircraft landed into a very strong wind, and as the tail was being lowered during the landing roll a change in the wind direction violently lifted the left wing. The pilot used full corrective aileron and rudder but could not prevent the aircraft from veering off the right side of the strip or the right wingtip touching the ground. He then applied full asymmetric power to straighten the aircraft, and after regaining control took-off again, returning for a safe landing.

After taxiing to the terminal, the pilot-in-command and co-pilot inspected the wingtip and aileron for damage and checked the controls for full and free movement. They both believed that only superficial damage had occurred and that the aircraft was airworthy. Subsequent investigation revealed that the outboard aileron hinge mounting had been displaced.

The pilot reported that during the take-off run the cabin door opened. The take-off was rejected, and the pilot closed the throttles and applied the brakes. The aircraft overran the runway, ran through a dirt and a fence before coming to rest.

The aircraft sustained damage to the landing gear, propellers and the fuselage.

During the landing roll, assisted by a crosswind, the aircraft departed from the slopping left side of the airstrip damaging the left wing and propeller.

The pilot reported that the right brake appeared to be inoperative, the left brake only partially operating, and both brake pedals spongy.

Marks on the runway indicated a fast touchdown well into the runway length, with heavy wheel skid marks on the loose gravel surface.

An inspection failed to find any problems with either brake.

The pilot stated that after successfully completing six circuits and landings with an instructor on board he commenced a period of solo circuits. During the fourth circuit, on final approach for runway 29, he was instructed by air traffic control to go around and make a right hand circuit for runway 36 and cleared for a touch and go landing. A normal approach was carried out, then after touching down at 80 knots the aircraft ballooned slightly. The pilot lowered the nose allowing the aircraft to wheelbarrow on its nosewheel and veer sharply to the left. The pilot applied right rudder to correct the swing, but the aircraft continued to slide sideways into a large drain.

The pilot was a student on his second solo flight. During the approach and round out phase of the second circuit, the aircraft ballooned. The student pushed the controls forward and a heavy landing, nosewheel first, eventuated. The nose gear collapsed, and the propeller struck the runway. The aircraft slewed to the right and came to rest within the flight strip.

The instructor was embarking on an introductory flight with a prospective student. The wind on the duty runway was outside the aircraft limits so the instructor elected to use a different runway where the crosswind was within the aircraft limits. As the tail was raised off the ground the student applied incorrect aileron input for the crosswind and the right wing lifted, causing the aircraft to ground loop off the runway. Before the instructor could regain control, the aircraft hit trees at the edge of the airport boundary.

While conducting joy flights a misunderstanding made the pilot believe that a commercial requirement necessitated landing in the 25 direction, which had a 2 degree downhill slope. The first approach for landing was high, and a go-around was initiated from about 100 feet above ground level. The pilot reported that during the overshoot the aircraft performance was poor, failing to climb satisfactorily and passed close to the tops of a group of trees.

The next approach was still high and at a speed slightly faster than the published approach speed for the prevailing conditions. The aircraft floated for a distance after flaring and touched down late. Being reluctant to attempt another go-around, the pilot tried to stop the aircraft before the end of the airstrip, but it overran and continued down a steep slope, coming to rest in a ditch.

Witness reports indicate that although the wind at the time of the occurrence was described as a variable gusty crosswind, a certain amount of downwind component had previously been noticed.

The pilot was taking his friends for a local flight. He commenced a take-off on runway 09 which has a gravel surface and is 423 metres long. When about two thirds of the way down the runway, the pilot realised the aircraft would probably overrun the end of the runway and collide with the boundary fence. He attempted to brake but realised it was too late, so he then attempted to fly the aircraft over the fence for a landing straight ahead in an adjoining paddock. However, the aircraft collided with the fence. After the accident, the pilot realised he had attempted to take off with a 15-knot tailwind. He believed that he read the windsock back to front.

The purpose of the flight was dual training for a private pilot on the aircraft type. On arrival overhead the aerodrome the wind was assessed as a north-westerly at 10 - 15 knots. The pilot joined the circuit for runway 35. The instructor reported that the approach was normal other than being slightly high, but this was corrected by the pilot. Touchdown was reported to be on the main wheels first at approximately 65 - 70 knots. As the nose contacted the ground, the aircraft began to veer substantially to the left. The instructor took control using right rudder but with no effect. The aircraft swerved off the runway and the nose gear collapsed.

A post-accident inspection showed scrub marks on the nose gear and left main gear tyres consistent with left yaw and right rudder application. The nose gear trunnion had failed in sideways overload. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft did not reveal any mechanical defects that may have led to the accident.