Narrikup Incident. Pilot and Passengers OK

[mAgNeToDrOp]

VH-EEC. According to the news report the plane drifted into the trees from a XWind:

 

 

 

[Teckair]

Blimey, glad they're OK.

 

 

[facthunter]

Watch out for those "cross" winds. (something must have upset them) Seriously, if the wind gets under the upwind wing and the other one digs in, you are having a wild ride. Nev

 

 

[mAgNeToDrOp]

ATSB safety Investigation link:

 

Looks like Windshear was also a factor :(

 

The ATSB has commenced an investigation into a collision with a tree involving a Cessna 172, VH-EEC 19 km NNW Albany, Western Australia, on 13 July 2014.

 

 

 

"During the landing, the aircraft encountered a crosswind and significant windshear and the pilot conducted a go-around. During the initial climb, the aircraft veered out of the cleared runway area and collided with a tree. The aircraft was substantially damaged and a passenger sustained minor injury.

 

 

 

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the flight crews and gather additional information.

 

A report will be released within several months."

 

 

[poteroo]

ATSB safety Investigation link:Looks like Windshear was also a factor :(

 

The ATSB has commenced an investigation into a collision with a tree involving a Cessna 172, VH-EEC 19 km NNW Albany, Western Australia, on 13 July 2014.

 

 

 

"During the landing, the aircraft encountered a crosswind and significant windshear and the pilot conducted a go-around. During the initial climb, the aircraft veered out of the cleared runway area and collided with a tree. The aircraft was substantially damaged and a passenger sustained minor injury.

 

 

 

As part of the investigation, the ATSB will interview the flight crews and gather additional information.

 

A report will be released within several months."

And whilst our esteemed ATSB are doing all this interviewing, I hope that they interview the many experienced pilots who were within 100m of the strip, and who viewed the aircrafts' approach, the accident, and also have a very sound recollection of the wind parameters at that time.

 

happy days,

 

 

[bexrbetter]

I hope that they interview the many experienced pilots who were within 100m of the strip, ,

It was probably all those '"experienced pilots" who were causing all that wind.

 

 

[poteroo]

It was probably all those '"experienced pilots" who were causing all that wind.

Well - it was blowing from them over the strip so who knows? Only my opinion of their skills though.

 

 

[David Isaac]

So what happened Potts?

 

 

[poteroo]

So what happened Potts?

Was not present so cannot make any first hand observations. Understand that the 'accident' 172 was the last to land of about 8 aircraft, and that all of those 'landed' crews viewed the accident at close hand. Parking is just off north side of the 06/24 strip. Large windsock is midway along on N side of strip and in clear view on the approach from either direction. Wind said to be 'approx' 10-12 kts from the N. This strip has been in use some 10 years and is frequently used by local and visiting pilots. We use it for advanced student training in C172's which have no problem handling it's length, width, surface or most winds.

 

Aircraft said to have initially collided with trees on S side of 06, and then turned by the right wings' impact so that it faced almost 180 deg to its' approach direction. (no comments or opinions as to how it managed to get so far off line - perhaps ATSB will ascertain this?) Young trees along the taxiway to the buildings appear to have absorbed a lot of the horizontal impact and this probably allowed for the crews survival with minimal injury. Add to that, the fact this was an R model C172 which reportedly has stronger seats, belts and general cabin structure than older models. The absence of fire - despite damage to the tanks and system - possibly attributable to a 10 kt breeze shifting the vapour away rapidly and the thick kikuyu grass not allowing any pooling of fuel on the surface under the wreck. Hear that it is probably a write-off. Lucky people! Go buy a Lotto ticket asap.

 

happy days,