Wed, Aug 27, 2014
Beech Duchess Makes Emergency Landing In A Field In New South Wales
The pilot of a Beechcraft Duchess airplane says he was forced to restrain an 82-year-old passenger during a flight when the passenger tried to grab the airplane's controls.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the 23-year-old pilot was flying the older man on a charter Monday afternoon local time when he began grabbing at the controls. Acting Inspector Gareth Smith told the paper that the passenger was "turning off fuel lines and turning buttons randomly on and off" during the flight. The pilot said he had to "restrain" the passenger to keep control of the airplane.
The pilot, who was not named but works for Sydney-based Australia by Air, eventually made a "pan-pan" distress call and made a wheels-up landing in a field near Oberon in New South Wales. Neither suffered serious injuries, but the passenger was taken to a hospital with head and facial injuries he possibly suffered in the scuffle with the pilot.
Police said they have not yet had a chance to talk to the passenger to determine if his erratic behavior might have been caused by a medical condition. Australia by Air said in a statement that the pilot "demonstrated excellent airmanship and skill during the landing, and we thank him for his professionalism." The pilot was taken to a hospital, treated for a leg injury, and released. Police said he was also treated for shock.
(Beechcraft Duchess pictured in file photo. Not accident airplane)
More News
Aero Linx: Model Aeronautical Association of Australia MAAA clubs are about fun flying, camaraderie and community. For over 75 years, the MAAA has been Australia’s largest fl>[...]
Touchdown Zone Lighting Two rows of transverse light bars located symmetrically about the runway centerline normally at 100 foot intervals. The basic system extends 3,000 feet alon>[...]
“Discovery and innovation are central to our mission at Virgin Galactic. We’re excited to build on our successful record of facilitating scientific experiments in subor>[...]
How To Get A Story On Aero-TV News/Feature Programming How do I submit a story idea or lead to Aero-TV? If you would like to submit a story idea or lead, please contact Jim Campbel>[...]
Student Pilot Reported That During Rotation, “All Of A Sudden The Back Of The Plane Kicked To The Right..." Analysis: The student pilot reported that during rotation, “>[...]