Bad times for Paraparaumu Aviation

[Anthony]

Saw on the news just now that a couple crashed a Cessna on a training circuit near Omaka, after they'd taken off from Paraparaumu.
Been a bit of a bad time for Paraparaumu aviation recently with the crash and now this.

No deaths or anything, but the Cessna landed on the wrong airstrip and flipped over.
Somebody official said that the correct airstrip was clearly marked though, so it sounds like a case of pilot error.

Cheers
Anthony Harris

Edited to fix my rubbish geography knowledge.

[Ian Warren]

Omaka , South Island - CRASH ... Paraparaumu , North Island - Safe

[ardypilot]

Plane flips on sticky airstrip
By CHERIE HOWIE - The Marlborough Express | Tuesday, 18 March 2008



STICKY WICKET: A Cessna 152 lies upside down on a strip of freshly ploughed soil that was mistaken for the grass runway at Omaka Aerodrome. The pilot and passenger were uninjured.

The pilot of a light aircraft is believed to have mistakenly landed on a runway being re-grassed, causing her Cessna to flip at Omaka Aerodrome, near Blenheim, this afternoon.

Fire, police and ambulance services rushed to the scene following the 3pm crash, but the pilot and her male passenger were uninjured.

No further details were available.

[K5054NZ]

Anyone remember the rather more serious "wrong runway" accident we had at Omaka last year? Methinks the MAC should invest in some big white numbers on the vectors, like at Duxford.

Great to hear the pilot and her passenger got out ok!

[Charl]

Please tell me this is not ZK-ELS
Don't know how to put this delicately, but the last one written off was also a GNZLAP aircraft.
Mmm

[ZK-KAG]

QUOTE (Charl @ Mar 18 2008, 07:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Please tell me this is not ZK-ELS
Don't know how to put this delicately, but the last one written off was also a GNZLAP aircraft.
Mmm

Im 90% sure that was ZK-JEN... an awesome C-152A from Kapiti Aero Club.

Omaka is very confusing, having been there myself.

[spongebob206]

How can you mistake the runway?

Overhead re join?

Were was the windsock?

Club house position? Ive landed and stayed at Omaka, they will never forget us. Aircraft got ripped off there, another story.

I suppose mistakes happen.

[ZK-KAG]

Its confusing in the fact that its really hard to see the runways sometimes (particularly when its dry, as is the case is now). Its one big paddock, with barely discernable runways. If you have been there before its somewhat easier, cause you know what to look for, but I almost got caught out the first time I went there.

[A185F]

yea I pretty sure thats JEN aswell. Now they down 2 152s, what a bugger. Atleast this one will prob be back in the air soon though

[Charl]

QUOTE (ZK-KAG @ Mar 18 2008, 06:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Im 90% sure that was ZK-JEN... an awesome C-152A from Kapiti Aero Club.
Omaka is very confusing, having been there myself.

Doesn't improve things, another GNZLAP plane. Why do I go on so?? Think how the owners of the real plane must feel!

[deaneb]

QUOTE (K5054NZ @ Mar 18 2008, 07:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Anyone remember the rather more serious "wrong runway" accident we had at Omaka last year? Methinks the MAC should invest in some big white numbers on the vectors, like at Duxford.

Great to hear the pilot and her passenger got out ok!

I'm not sure runway numbers would have helped last years accident. The pilot called the correct runway, looked at the windsock, then for some unknown reason decided to land the direction the sock was pointing !! Not towards it.
Having flown around Omaka several times I admit its not easy to see at times, but shouldn't pilots study the likes of the VFG before they fly to another airfield ?? Also was there a Notam for the ploughed up vector ??

Deane

[ZK-KAG]

OMAKA (NZOM):

A0470/08 FROM: 09 MAR 2008 19:08 TO: 09 JUN 2008 19:00
GRASS RWY 01/19 AND GRASS RWY 07/25 CLSD DUE REGRASSING.
GRASS RWY 12/30 REALIGNED TO NORTH BY 5M DUE REGRASSING. CLSD AND
REALIGNED PORTION OF RWY MARKED BY WHITE TYRES.

I guess its kinda enough said...

[victor_alpha_charlie]

QUOTE (deaneb @ Mar 18 2008, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure runway numbers would have helped last years accident. The pilot called the correct runway, looked at the windsock, then for some unknown reason decided to land the direction the sock was pointing !! Not towards it.
Having flown around Omaka several times I admit its not easy to see at times, but shouldn't pilots study the likes of the VFG before they fly to another airfield ?? Also was there a Notam for the ploughed up vector ??

Deane

Without intentionally being racist, anyone notice the nationalities of the pilots in BOTH Omaka accidents? Talking to VA pilots, people of the same nationality have had quite a few 'mistakes' over the last few years also (eg while flying into Taupo, they say they're in one place, then a minute later somewhere completely different, then they try to land on the wrong runway.) Bit of a worry

[greaneyr]

I found it interesting how the MAC went on the record (on TV3 news last night) and said outright that it was pilot error. Funny how when nobody is killed, it's considered acceptable to jump straight out with an assumption, yet when someone dies we're all supposed to 'stop speculating and wait for the TAIC report'.

A little consistency wouldn't go amiss in my view.

[FlyingKiwi]

For the record, this is Omaka in November last year, for those unfamiliar with the runway layout:

[NZ255]

Yeah I think it's JEN from kapiti areo club, but if it is, I saw her flying at NZPP last sat.

[Gavin Conroy]

larger numbers would make no difference as the windsock is the guide to use as is a VFG.
The airfield is well marked out with large white crosses at the end of the vectors and the runway markers have been moved and NOTAMs issued.
There are also white tyres marking out the first 100m or so of the new vector.
All that has changed is that the vectors have been moved 6.0 metres as the 30-12 vectors have got a bit rough over time and are being levelled again.
Having flown around the airfield a number of times lately you cant help but notice these white crosses and the newly marked out vectors.
Overhead rejoins are also mandatory at Omaka.

[Ian Warren]

great photo FK

[deaneb]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Mar 19 2008, 10:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Without intentionally being racist, anyone notice the nationalities of the pilots in BOTH Omaka accidents? Talking to VA pilots, people of the same nationality have had quite a few 'mistakes' over the last few years also (eg while flying into Taupo, they say they're in one place, then a minute later somewhere completely different, then they try to land on the wrong runway.) Bit of a worry

I'm hearing you. A similar incident occured last year with a young Female student pilot at an ATC flying camp at Woodbourne. She advised her position near wairau river mouth at X ft. The crew of an Iroquois, test flying in the area, were alarmed as they were also at the same height and same place, so they immediately took action and circled to try to get a visual on the aircraft. It then turns out the student was actually several miles further south down the coast. Upon returning to the flying camp at Woodbourne she then lost her nerve again and even tried to line up on a non existent grass vector south of WB's main runway, rather that the grass vector north of the runway. Given the aircraft at the camp had used this runway all the time, and assuming she must havemade other flights in the area prior, it raised a lot of eyebrows.
These types of incidents don't, neccessarily, question age, sex or race, but rather the ability, experience and maturity of some student pilots. Some blame has to equally rest on some of the instructors, where once again I question the experience levels.

Deane

[Charl]

QUOTE (victor_alpha_charlie @ Mar 19 2008, 09:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Without intentionally being racist ... Bit of a worry

Wot, these bloody Kiwi wimmin at it again???