Investigation number
199504248
Occurrence date
State
South Australia
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Depart/app/land wrong runway
Occurrence class
Accident

It was the pilot's first flight to the destination and on arrival he overflew the landing area to ascertain the landing direction from the windsock. He then continued in a left turn carrying out a circling approach onto final. The grassy landing area was located in an area of low scrub. It had gable markers in the form of an "L" situated in the corners at each end of the airstrip to identify the thresholds. Four rows of cone markers along the length of the airstrip were used to indicate the extremities of the flight strips, and the runway's location in the centre. When the pilot overflew the airstrip he noticed the row of cone markers along the left (eastern) side of the flight strip, and the two rows marking the runway. Because of low bushes and long grass he did not see the cone markers along the right (western) side of the flight strip, although the "L" threshold marker was visible. This gave him the impression that the row of cone markers along the eastern side of the runway was the runway centreline, and not verify the situation, flew the circuit to land to the left of the perceived centreline, on the flight strip. Because of long grass, and the high nose attitude of the aircraft, the pilot failed to see piles of stones and areas of soft sand on the flight strip. After touchdown the aircraft rolled about 300 m then collided with a pile of stones and entered an area of soft sand, resulting in the separation of the nose gear leg.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Cessna Aircraft Company
Model
310R
Registration
VH-TWN
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Adelaide SA
Destination
Elliston SA
Damage
Substantial