Incident Overview
Date: Friday 15 February 1980
Aircraft Type: Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander
Owner/operator: Talair
Registration Number: P2-…
Location: Satwag Airport (SWG) –
ÿ Papua New Guinea
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants:
Component Affected: BrakesBrakes
Category: Accident
An Islander aircraft experienced a ground-loop during landing on a severely waterlogged and greasy clay airstrip in Papua New Guinea. The brakes locked, causing skidding, and the aircraft veered to the right, culminating in a 180-degree turn and a near-vertical landing with the tail level with a drop-off. A passenger sustained serious leg injuries.An Islander aircraft experienced a ground-loop during landing on a severely waterlogged and greasy clay airstrip in Papua New Guinea. The brakes locked, causing skidding, and the aircraft veered to the right, culminating in a 180-degree turn and a near-vertical landing with the tail level with a drop-off. A passenger sustained serious leg injuries.
Description
The aircraft landed long at the waterlogged greasy clay airstrip at Satwag, Papua New Guinea. The brakes locked and the aircraft started skidding. It veered to the right until about 50 metres from the end of the strip. The pilot released the brakes and applied power to both engines. The aircraft then deviated further to the right. The starboard wingtip struck the mud-bank at the side of the end of the strip, then the starboard prop, followed by the nose and nose-wheel. The Islander completed an abrupt 180ø ground-loop and came to rest facing back up the strip, with the tail nearly level with the edge of a drop-off. One passenger sustained serious leg injuries.
Primary Cause
Brake lock and loss of control during landing on a slippery airstrip.Brake lock and loss of control during landing on a slippery airstrip.Share on:
