The plane nose-dived into the tarmac after the nose wheel gave way after landing.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
A pilot involved in an incident at Shepparton Airport where his plane nose-dived into the runway after landing has praised emergency services for their quick response.
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Even though it turned out to be only a minor incident, pilot Angus McKinnon was impressed with the speed at which emergency services arrived at the airport after receiving the call.
Mr McKinnon had just landed his six-seater Piper Aztec shortly after 4pm when the nose wheel gave way a few seconds later.
A group works to get the plane upright.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The plane nose-dived into the tarmac, but the other two main landing wheels held steady.
A nearby farmer saw what had happened and called 000.
About five police cars, two ambulances, two fire trucks and the Shepparton Search and Rescue all went to the scene of what was called in as a priority aircraft incident.
Firefighters were ready in case there were any issues as the plane was righted.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Thankfully, the incident that greeted them was much less dire than what they had expected.
“The police, firies and ambulances were amazing, with the speed they got here,” Mr McKinnon said.
“I was hardly out of the plane and the first one arrived.”
There was a large turnout of emergency services to reports of a plane crash.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
While there was nothing much for them to do on this occasion — with only one fire crew out on the runway to ensure there was no fire risk — Mr McKinnon said it was good to know that a response to an actual emergency would be so fast.
“If something big did happen, they would be there quickly. So well done to them,” he said.
Mr McKinnon had been flying with a flight instructor at the time of the incident, as part of an annual review that all pilots have to do to keep their pilot’s licence.
There was a big turnout of emergency vehicles to the incident.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
He said the initial landing had been normal, but the nose wheel gave way a few seconds later.
No-one was injured in the incident, but the plane received damage to its propellers.
The airport was closed while the plane remained on the airstrip before it was towed back to its hangar.
The propellers were damaged in the incident.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
The back of the plane is held down as it is readied to be towed from the runway.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Several police officers were on the runway after the crash.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
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