Safe Speed Forums

The road, near Leominster, Herefordshire, was free of traffic as it had only just been built.

Road confusion lands pilot in trouble

Peter Walker
Thursday February 8, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

A 68-year-old pilot landed his private plane on a public road after mistakenly thinking it was an airport runway, only realising his mistake when he noticed the kerb and some lamp-posts, according to a newly released accident report.

The single-engine plane then hit a speed bump and veered off the road, almost completely shearing off one of its wings, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) report said.

According to the AAIB's February bulletin, the unnamed pilot had flown for 27 years, amassing more than 1,200 hours of flying, although he had flown for only four hours in the previous three months.

On August 24 last year he took off from Coventry airport heading for Shobdon in Herefordshire, an aerodrome he had only ever landed at three times.

With visibility good, the pilot thought he had spotted the runway correctly and made contact with the airport by radio.

However, as the plane made its final approach and the pilot announced his intention to land he received no reply.

This was because he was in fact four miles east of the airport and about to land on a newly completed road. "When close to touchdown the pilot noticed that the airfield was different from what he remembered," the report said.

"After touching down, the pilot noticed a kerb to the side and lamp-posts to his left. The pilot had unintentionally landed on a new road that had not yet been opened."

The plane then hit a speed bump and veered off the road. The left wing struck a small tree and the other wing hit a lamp-post, shearing off almost completely. The plane then came to a rest and the pilot was able to escape.

The AAIB's report noted that despite the mistake, the plane was in no danger of hitting any traffic as the road had only just been built and was blocked off at both ends.

What next - -a road sign warning of aircraft landing on highway .
Perhaps pilots should carry maps showing roads with traffic calming ( Sorry -Robin)

Doesn't bother me mate, I can fly with zero airspeed!

Oh yes the dunk tank, that brings back cheerful memories.

Yes, any helicopter landing other than completely controlled, and especially in water, will generally result in an upside-down helicopter, since all the weight (engine(s), gearbox and rotors) is at the top!