What happened
On 29 May 2021, a Rutan Long-EZ with registration ZS-USS was performing a routine flight in the general flying area near Newcastle Aerodrome, KwaZulu-Natal. The flight, conducted under Visual Flight Rules (VFR) by a private pilot, lasted approximately 42 minutes.
During the final approach to Runway 11, the pilot was at an altitude of roughly 4 feet above the ground when a vehicle towing a trailer entered the active runway from the left side. While the passenger in the vehicle spotted the approaching aircraft and alerted the driver, the vehicle was forced to perform an emergency reverse maneuver to stop in the middle of the runway. Because the aircraft was already committed to the landing, the pilot could not abort the descent and instead managed to bring the plane to a halt just meters away from the stopped vehicle. No injuries were sustained, and the aircraft sustained no damage.
The investigation
The investigation into this serious incident focused on the movement of ground vehicles within the maneuvering area of the unmanned aerodrome. Investigators examined the sequence of events leading to the runway incursion and reviewed the adherence to Civil Aviation Technical Standards (CATS) regarding aerodrome access and vehicle operations. The inquiry also looked into the training and induction processes for personnel entering the aerodrome boundaries.
Findings
- The primary cause of the incident was a runway incursion caused by a vehicle entering the active runway.
- The vehicle was a car towing a trailer that entered the path of the aircraft during its final landing phase.
- While the vehicle occupants attempted to rectify the error by reversing, the timing of the entry left the pilot with no option but to land and stop short of the obstacle.
Safety action
Following the event, the aerodrome manager confirmed that all individuals entering the aerodrome boundaries, including the occupants of the vehicle involved, undergo induction as required by regulatory instructions.
Additionally, a safety recommendation was issued for the Director for Civil Aviation to ensure that owners of unmanned aerodromes strictly adhere to regulations regarding the control of aircraft and vehicle movements across active areas to prevent future incursions.