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KiloDeltaYankee
28th Oct 2008, 19:14
"A pilot got himself in the poo yesterday after his plane overshot the runway coming in to land at the Thames airfield.

The pilot - from Hamilton's training school, CTC Aviation - made a sudden landing and ended up dunked in the town's sewage pond system.

Crew Training Centre Aviation chief executive John Jones said the man was on a navigation exercise to build up his flying hours.

However, a suspected engine problem near Thames meant the pilot was caught short - and had to make an immediate landing.

"It wasn't weather or wind. We think there was a cough in the engine, but we're not sure yet." The plane had since been pulled out of the pond and was grounded until it had been inspected.

Mr Jones said it was unlikely the Civil Aviation Authority would be called in and the pilot was uninjured.

"It's not a serious issue. When you put it into perspective we do 45,000 flying hours a year, which is probably the most out of all the airlines in New Zealand apart from Air New Zealand."

Mr Jones said the pilot was uninjured.

"He was fine. Just a bit wet."

He didn't think the pilot realised what he had landed in.

Mr Jones said he was impressed with the way the pilot handled himself and the incident.

"I think he did quite well to be honest. You get these things."

The Thames SPCA is next to the airfield and manager Rebecca Pearson said the pilot came over to use their phone.

"He was good. He was pretty much in shock and very wet ... He wasn't wanting to say too much."

Ms Pearson said of all the ponds to land in, it was probably the best as it contained the less concentrated effluent."

Landed in the poo ... stink - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz (http://www.stuff.co.nz/4741954a11.html)

At the bar, after having a hot shower and change of clothes, how would you explain the landing? :}

KDY

Sallyann1234
28th Oct 2008, 19:45
the pilot was caught short - and had to make an immediate landing.

He chose the right place then!

aviate1138
28th Oct 2008, 20:18
KDY quoted.......

"He was good. He was pretty much in shock and very wet ... He wasn't wanting to say too much."

Aviate muses....

I think my jaw would have been clamped shut too! :rolleyes:

superjet777-300
28th Oct 2008, 21:04
another CTC engine failure?! :rolleyes:

BackPacker
28th Oct 2008, 21:22
Being "scared ****less" takes on a whole new meaning.:\

Genghis the Engineer
29th Oct 2008, 00:14
I had a similar experience in a flexwing microlight once - making a precautionary landing in a promising looking field, I was rather disconcerted to discover that the owner had been "muck spreading". Friction was approximately zero, and the far end of the field was piled about 4ft high in the stuff.

I have never appreciated quite so much the benefits of a propeller at the back!

After fixing my problem, I flew out and home - where it took me about 90 minutes with a bucket and sponge to clean the aeroplane up - everything I was wearing went straight into the washing machine!

G

Pilot DAR
29th Oct 2008, 00:46
Oh, Effluent! And for all of these years, I thought that aviation required the participant to be affluent!

n5296s
29th Oct 2008, 06:34
Sorry, but only a second prize compared to the pilot who took a twin down into a sewage tank south of San Francisco a couple of years back, with such accuracy that although the wingspan of the plane (Duchess iirc) was greater than the diameter of the tank, there was no damage to the tank at all - not even the railings around it were bent. Sadly all three people in the plane (including the instructor who was inexplicably in the back) died in that one.

n5296s

JugglingSpence
29th Oct 2008, 11:08
Looks like this guy got lucky, the sh*t could have really hit the fan in this one!

I am truly sorry for this post, I just couldn't help myself...

I'll get my coat! :\

flyvirgin
29th Oct 2008, 12:33
I was flying out of Bournemouth last weekend, When we lined up on the runway, cleared for take off, rolling, 200ft abouve the ground the rpm droped s:mad:t, my heart was in my mouth,it only dropped for about 2 secs but it semmed like a life time. flew downwind and landed safely.
When we got the aircraft checked out, the spark plugs where covered in lead.
That was a good learning curve, to say the least