Aircraft strikes boundary fence during aborted landing

No fatalities • Apollo Bay Airfield, Victoria

An aircraft struck an airfield boundary fence and a tree following a delayed go-around maneuver and improper flap retraction.

What happened

During the landing phase, the aircraft experienced an initial bounce and drifted to the right, moving off the sealed runway. The pilot did not immediately initiate a go-around, allowing the aircraft to continue over the grass fly-over area. With approximately one-quarter of the runway remaining, the aircraft bounced a second time, at which point the pilot elected to perform a go-around.

During the climb, the pilot failed to immediately retract the flaps to the 20-degree position as specified in the aeroplane flight manual. This deviation, alongside the heavy weight of the aircraft and the upward slope of the runway, hindered the aircraft's ability to climb sufficiently to clear the airfield boundary fence. The aircraft subsequently struck the fence. Following this impact, the pilot further deviated from the correct procedure by raising the flaps to 10 degrees before the aircraft had gained enough speed or cleared all obstacles. This loss of lift caused the aircraft to descend and strike the canopy of a tree located 225 m beyond the airfield boundary.

The investigation

The investigation focused on the sequence of events during the landing and the subsequent go-around attempt. Investigators examined the pilot's adherence to the aeroplane flight manual and the impact of the aircraft's weight and the runway terrain on the climb performance. The analysis also looked at the aerodynamic consequences of the flap retraction settings used during the emergency maneuver.

Probable cause

The aircraft failed to clear the airfield boundary fence due to a delayed go-around, improper flap retraction during the climb, the heavy weight of the aircraft, and the rising terrain.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 2018-01-31 Cessna Aircraft Company U206G accident near Apollo Bay Airfield, Victoria?

An aircraft struck an airfield boundary fence and a tree following a delayed go-around maneuver and improper flap retraction.

Were there any fatalities in the 2018-01-31 Cessna Aircraft Company U206G accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 2018-01-31 involved a Cessna Aircraft Company U206G, registration VH-WZX, operated by Bush Pilots Australia, at Apollo Bay Airfield, Victoria.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The aircraft failed to clear the airfield boundary fence due to a delayed go-around, improper flap retraction during the climb, the heavy weight of the aircraft, and the rising terrain.

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