What happened
A solo pilot was conducting a ferry flight from Corowa Airport toward Yarrawonga when an emergency prompted an immediate return to the departure airfield. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot detected the smell of burning rubber inside the cockpit. Under the impression that an onboard fire was occurring, the pilot executed a turn back toward the airport and attempted a landing on the downwind runway.
During the landing sequence, the pilot lost control of the Cessna 172, leading to a violent ground loop. The force of the maneuver caused the aircraft's undercarriage to collapse. While the pilot escaped the incident without injury, the aircraft sustained significant damage. During subsequent recovery operations involving a crane, the tail section separated from the rear fuselage. Due to the extent of the structural damage, the aircraft was declared a total loss.
Findings
- The pilot's decision to land on the crossing runway was driven by the perception of an active fire.
- Loss of directional control during the landing phase led to the ground loop and subsequent undercarriage failure.