Incident Overview

Date: Wednesday 22 November 1989
Aircraft Type: Embraer EMB-110P1 Bandeirante
Owner/operator: Sunbird Airlines Pty Ltd
Registration Number: VH-FCK
Location: Kidston Airport, QLD – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Landing
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft WindshieldAircraft Windshield
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
On October 26, 2023, a serious aviation incident occurred at Kidston Airport, Australia, during a rain and cloud-induced descent. The pilot, navigating a circuit on runway 21, encountered significant turbulence and wind gusts, leading to a series of critical maneuvers. Initially, the pilot experienced visual contact with the runway lights and the goldmine, but the runway became overflowed, and the windsock indicated no significant wind. As the circuit progressed, the pilot experienced heavy rain and strong wind gusts, culminating in a collision with a tree. The pilot initiated a go-around, which was followed by a circuit and landing on runway 03. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including damage to the left inboard leading edge, left propeller, and left horizontal stabilizer. The incident was exacerbated by the presence of thunderstorms in the area, reduced visibility due to heavy rain, and the lack of approach guidance lighting. The pilot’s inability to accurately assess his height relative to the runway lights contributed significantly to the accident. The storm conditions, combined with the pilot?s navigation challenges, resulted in a false perception of the terrain and a potential undershoot situation.On October 26, 2023, a serious aviation incident occurred at Kidston Airport, Australia, during a rain and cloud-induced descent. The pilot, navigating a circuit on runway 21, encountered significant turbulence and wind gusts, leading to a series of critical maneuvers. Initially, the pilot experienced visual contact with the runway lights and the goldmine, but the runway became overflowed, and the windsock indicated no significant wind. As the circuit progressed, the pilot experienced heavy rain and strong wind gusts, culminating in a collision with a tree. The pilot initiated a go-around, which was followed by a circuit and landing on runway 03. The aircraft sustained significant damage, including damage to the left inboard leading edge, left propeller, and left horizontal stabilizer. The incident was exacerbated by the presence of thunderstorms in the area, reduced visibility due to heavy rain, and the lack of approach guidance lighting. The pilot’s inability to accurately assess his height relative to the runway lights contributed significantly to the accident. The storm conditions, combined with the pilot?s navigation challenges, resulted in a false perception of the terrain and a potential undershoot situation.

Description

The flight from Mount Isa, Australia, had been conducted in rain and cloud. At 5000 feet during the descent, the pilot became visual with the runway lights of Kidston Airport and the nearby goldmine. The runway was overflown, and it was noted that the windsock was showing no significant wind. During the circuit for landing on runway 21, increasing rain and cloud was noticed on downwind, and on left base the pilot experienced heavy rain and strong wind gusts. The pilot had turned the windscreen wipers on but they were not clearing the windscreen effectively. Forward visibility was significantly reduced, and on final approach the pilot was having difficulty keeping the aircraft aligned with the runway due to the turbulence and wind gusts. He elected to go around and carry out another circuit. During the next circuit the conditions had not improved, and the pilot again decided to go around, as it had become increasingly difficult to maintain runway alignment. As the go-around was commenced the pilot heard a loud bang and realised the aircraft had struck trees. The aircraft was climbed and the Kidston NDB approach procedure was carried out. The pilot became visual at 2900 feet and carried a circuit and landing on runway 03. (Kidston is 1620 feet above sea level). After shutdown the aircraft was inspected and was found to have sustained tree impact damage to the left inboard leading edge, the left propeller, and the left horizontal stabiliser. The pilot believes the tree strike occurred as a result of downdraft associated with the storms in the immediate area. The Kidston aerodrome is established according to the provisions of AIP AGA-6 and although approved for the night operation being conducted, it does not have an approach guidance lighting system. The aerodrome does not have any other ground lighting in the immediate vicinity other than the runway lights, and this may lead to the pilot having a false perception of height and runway perspective. It is considered that the lack of approach guidance, combined with the prevailing weather conditions, contributed significantly to the cause of this accident. There is rising terrain on the approaches to runway 21. The pilot reported that he was having difficulty with forward visibility due to the ineffectiveness of the windscreen wipers. The effect of heavy rain on aircraft windshields may lead to a number of visual errors. One effect is to make objects appear to be lower in relation to the aircraft than they actually are. Whilst it is difficult to estimate the magnitude of the error, the elements were present in this accident, and may have given the pilot a false impression of his height in relation to the runway lights. Significant Factors: 1. Weather associated with thunderstorms in the local area. 2. The aerodrome is not equipped with a runway approach lighting system. 3. During a visual approach the pilot encountered excessive crosswind, reduced visibility and turbulence. 4. The aircraft struck a tree on the approach to runway 21, due to the inability of the pilot to appreciate the proximity of the aircraft to the terrain on final approach. 5. The aircraft windscreen wipers were not working efficiently. 6. Excessive rain on the windscreen may have caused a visual error and contributed to the pilot flying the aircraft into an undershoot situation.

Primary Cause

Weather associated with thunderstorms in the local area, particularly the presence of heavy rain and strong wind gusts, combined with reduced visibility due to heavy rain and the absence of approach guidance lighting.Weather associated with thunderstorms in the local area, particularly the presence of heavy rain and strong wind gusts, combined with reduced visibility due to heavy rain and the absence of approach guidance lighting.

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