A GA8 Airvan operating a scenic flight in Queensland's Whitsunday region overran the runway after the pilot did not initiate a go‑around when the aircraft was above profile with a high airspeed during approach, an ATSB investigation report details.
The aircraft, operated by Wave Air and with a pilot and seven passengers on board, was landing at Whitsunday Airport at Shute Harbour at the conclusion of a scenic flight on 2 November 2024.
After overrunning the runway, the Airvan travelled briefly across grass before entering marshy ground and coming to a stop in a ditch. While the aircraft was substantially damaged, the pilot and passengers were uninjured.
Multiple onboard passenger videos aided the ATSB investigation in determining the aircraft's flightpath and speed during the approach and landing.
"The aircraft's approach was above profile with a high airspeed," Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod explained.
"Subsequently, the landing was beyond the planned touchdown point."
The report details that the aircraft passed over the displaced threshold of the runway at approximately 100 ft AGL. The pilot commenced the flare about 300 m beyond the displaced threshold, at an airspeed of approximately 90 kt. The aircraft then floated for about 640 m before touching down at a groundspeed of 65 kt with 370 m of runway remaining
"While landing beyond the planned touchdown point, there was adequate landing distance remaining, however the pilot did not apply sufficient braking to stop the aircraft departing the runway."
The investigation determined the pilot had an incorrect understanding of the required approach speed. It also found that the pilot's initial training was not fully completed, and that Wave Air's training, supervision and checking flights did not identify the pilot's approach speed was routinely excessive.
"For pilots, this accident should demonstrate the importance of accurate knowledge of your aircraft's reference speeds, and always being prepared to promptly execute a go‑around if an approach for landing does not proceed as expected," Mr Macleod noted.
"In addition, routinely practicing go‑arounds will ensure the manoeuvre can be performed safely when needed."
While not determined to have contributed to the accident, the investigation also found Wave Air's weight and balance system used an incorrect figure to calculate the aircraft's centre of gravity, and passengers were not weighed in accordance with the operator's procedures.
Additionally, it was found the operator's stabilised approach criteria included a decision height which was too low.
Since the accident Wave Air has taken several safety actions including updating its training and checking manual, appointing a new head of training and checking, updating pilot training, reviewing procedures and errors in the weight and balance system, and revising its stabilised approach criteria.
You can find here the final report: Runway excursion involving GippsAero GA8, VH-IDM, Whitsunday Airport (Shute Harbour), Queensland on 2 November 2024
