Collision with terrain involving a Cessna 172F, Lismore Airport, New South Wales

A recently published ATSB occurrence brief details a collision with terrain involving a Cessna 172 at Lismore Airport.

What happened

On 23 November 2024, a Cessna 172F aircraft was being used to conduct a recency flight at Lismore Airport, New South Wales. On board was the pilot operating under a private pilot’s licence and a passenger with a recreational instructor rating. The pilot in command decided to conduct various configuration-based scenarios such as short field approaches and landings during the flight.

During a simulated short field landing scenario, the aircraft descended toward the runway and collided with a fence located at the beginning of the tarmac prior to the threshold of runway 15. The aircraft’s propeller, landing gear and engine cowling proceeded to strike the runway resulting in the aircraft rotating 180 degrees on the ground. During the rotation, the rear fuselage impacted the runway, and the aircraft slid on the bitumen for approximately 5 metres before coming to a stop.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wing, undercarriage and engine/propeller. The pilot and passenger were uninjured in the accident.

Safety message

Pilots must ensure that they are continually assessing both the aircraft’s profile and airspeed, especially during low-speed operations. Should the aircraft become unstable, conduct a missed approach.

This occurrence also highlights the importance of monitoring and assessing the landing area, taking into consideration all natural obstacles and infrastructure around the aerodrome.

About this report

Decisions regarding whether to conduct an investigation, and the scope of an investigation, are based on many factors, including the level of safety benefit likely to be obtained from an investigation. For this occurrence, no investigation has been conducted and the ATSB did not verify the accuracy of the information. A brief description has been written using information supplied in the notification and any follow-up information in order to produce a short summary report, and allow for greater industry awareness of potential safety issues and possible safety actions.