Plane lands on highway - Melbourne

[VH-XXX]

Can't wait for the full story on this one. (unused highway under construction)

Today in Malbourne there was persistent fog forecast, so much so that it is still around much of Melbourne just after 12pm.

Plane lands on road in Moorooduc - Local News - News - Mornington Peninsula Leader (http://mornington-peninsula-leader.whereilive.com.au/news/story/plane-lands-on-road-in-moorooduc/)

[Capn Bloggs]

Driving in the fog is better than flying in it...

[Lancair70]

I say "Job well done", the pilot, his pax and the plane are safe. He saw an option in worsening weather and took it, Bravo. I hope the authorities congratulate him and let him fly it home when the weather clears.

[Howard Hughes]

Good work, great outcome!:D

[Jabawocky]

Does he have to pay a Toll?
:}

While his departure was possibly not smart, I gather fog was forecast for the region, and he might have CASA asking him a few flight planning questions, I hope he and others associated do not get reamed for landing "off aerodrome" as has happened before, thus creating a bigger safety problem down the track by changing the pilots mind set with regard diversions or precautionary landings.

[lurker999]

it appears the Police are quite content with what happened.

"Due to weather issues with the low lying fog, they've decided, as a safety precaution, to set down," a Victoria Police spokesman said.
"There were no mechanical issues or anything like that, and no traffic hazard was caused by the actual plane.
"The good thing is he's done the right thing by being cautious instead of pushing on in that sort of weather.
They were just having some navigational issues and decided to set down."
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified.
The police spokesman said the pilot was planning to refuel the plane and take off from the Peninsula Link this afternoon to fly back to Tyabb.


Read more: Plane lands on Melbourne freeway (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/plane-lands-on-melbourne-freeway-20120611-205gp.html#ixzz1xSec4jO0)

[Che cows with guns]

When I was taught to fly we called it a precautionary search and landing.Do they still teach that?
CHEERS

[Hydromet]

I recall an aircraft landing on a section of the Hume Highway under construction near Yass NSW a few years ago. Don't think it flew out though, it was parked nearby for some time afterwards.
Can't recall the circumstances of the landing.

[apollo85]

:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

It is a rarity on PPRUNE these days to read about a command decision made by some chap/lass to conduct a safe landing. We were taught 'Precautionary Search and Landing' in about our 15th lesson in training, and yet it seems people seem to revisit the lessons learnt in the earlier 'Forced Landings' practice. I shake my head monthly at the Flight Safety magazine when i see the going list of incidents/accidents in australia, and just how many are VFR into IMC who lose their lives, and sadly that of their passengers.

I'm sure a lesson has been learnt by this guy, but how great he can live to tell the tale!

Well done mate!

[VH-XXX]

I would be interested to hear the full logic of the decision. Short of the airport being clear and then fogged in after, there should have been ample fuel for Moorabbin, Tooradin, Phillip Island and perhaps other airports that may not have been fog affected. So if there was reserve, they must have eaten well into it considering the plane had to be refueled before leaving the highway.

Sure, a good decision and a safe outcome in all regards, but interesting to hear more on planning, decision making and execution thereof to end up in that situation.

[Checkboard]

Where? Where? .... oh, right ... you mean "Hear, hear" ;)

[baswell]

The police spokesman said the pilot was planning to refuel the plane and take off from the Peninsula Link this afternoon to fly back to Tyabb
How much fuel did he take off with and how long did he fly before he put it down on the road? Not a very long flight from that road to Tyabb, right?

Did he go off somewhere and the fog was there on his return?

[VH-XXX]

This photo was taken at Carrum at 12:15pm today.

I heard one aircraft fly over, a Helicopter, but didn't see it.

It was sooooo foggy that even the birds could see no discernable horizon and were grounded on the water! (oh and it was 4 degrees!)

http://members.iinet.net.au/~bc_j400/fog1.jpg

http://members.iinet.net.au/~bc_j400/fog2.jpg

[Worrals in the wilds]

Top decision to land! (-Questionable decision to takeoff though..)
Agreed, but at least they're all safely on the ground talking about it. :ok:
Sometimes the pub is the best option...:}

[Walrus 7]

I was due to fly Lilydale-Tooradin to pick up some friends then off down to Latrobe Valley. I called LIL a couple of times and they couldn't see Mt Dandenong and canceled ops for the morning. Two calls to Tooradin and they said it was not lifting, it was actually getting worse! One call to Latrobe Valley: CAVOK. It was one of those mornings. A shame because it was a magnificent day in the areas without fog. Agree this gent made the right call in doing the precautionary, but I think an earlier call to scrub could have been a better one.

Walrus

[Blue Sky Baron]

Who said the old Moorooduc Airfield had closed, it seems to be open again by the look of it!! :D