Approach to worng airport
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Canada
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Wrong Airport
I once flew into Ft. Frances airport in Ontario, Can. Across the river from International Falls, USA.
Anyhew, upon my rollout I turned off the taxiway to find roaring to a halt behind me was a Gulfstream IV. He proceeded to rumble past, turn at the eastern end of the field and take off in the opposite direction, all without a single radio call.
Seems he had wandered over into the Canadian side and landed at the wrong airport and hastily made his escape.
Anyhew, upon my rollout I turned off the taxiway to find roaring to a halt behind me was a Gulfstream IV. He proceeded to rumble past, turn at the eastern end of the field and take off in the opposite direction, all without a single radio call.
Seems he had wandered over into the Canadian side and landed at the wrong airport and hastily made his escape.
Join Date: Oct 1999
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Congo/Rwanda
I had just landed in Bukavu, Lake Kivu, DRC ( Congo) about 8 years back when a B737 from Air Zaire had also just landed and was taking up the frequency looking for the second B737 from the same company. As it turns out they were both on the ground except they couldn't see one another, and I could only see one. This was because the other landed a few miles a way at Kamembe in Rwanda by mistake. He landed on a short, high runway in the wrong country in the height of the Kabila war. Not to mention, different runway heading, layout, elevation and of course runway length.
That B737 sat for years on the runway and I believe it was full of fish and arms for the troops.
I don't remember what ever happened to the crew and I do believe the aircraft was returned to Congo, via Goma just 40nm north, for fuel, after recent years. I heard the aircraft was stripped, minimul fuel for 40 miles and it just got airborne.
I'm sure the SAFAIR Herc pilots are aware of this story and could put facts to the story as they were operating from Kamembe during the same time. Somewhere 1995-1996.
That B737 sat for years on the runway and I believe it was full of fish and arms for the troops.
I don't remember what ever happened to the crew and I do believe the aircraft was returned to Congo, via Goma just 40nm north, for fuel, after recent years. I heard the aircraft was stripped, minimul fuel for 40 miles and it just got airborne.
I'm sure the SAFAIR Herc pilots are aware of this story and could put facts to the story as they were operating from Kamembe during the same time. Somewhere 1995-1996.
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One more:
A Swedish AF Viggen fighter inbound a wartime base in the middle of nowhere, intending to land on the base main 2000m runway. He somehow manage to land on one of the sattelite runways, which is 800m of open highway.
After a happy landing (not one car in sight), he realize his mistake and turn the fighter arround and promtly takes off again.
One problem: Just as he rotates a Saab 900 driven by the local doctor comes trough a the bend at the end, and enters the "runway" in the oposite direction. It is unclear how many feet there was between the 2 Saab products.
Priceless!
A Swedish AF Viggen fighter inbound a wartime base in the middle of nowhere, intending to land on the base main 2000m runway. He somehow manage to land on one of the sattelite runways, which is 800m of open highway.
After a happy landing (not one car in sight), he realize his mistake and turn the fighter arround and promtly takes off again.
One problem: Just as he rotates a Saab 900 driven by the local doctor comes trough a the bend at the end, and enters the "runway" in the oposite direction. It is unclear how many feet there was between the 2 Saab products.
Priceless!
Join Date: Jun 2001
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I understand that at RAF Coltishall, after several incidents over the years, there is a club tie available to visiting pilots who have mistaken Norwich for Coltishall.
ND
ND
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Only just 2 weeks ago, or so, I was inbound Frankfurt from LGW....filed at a lower level than usual. Handed over by Maastricht to Brussels, and when checking in received the reply:
"Hello Speedbird 2714.....Bruno Kerky Runway 25...."
me: "err...say again?"
Brussels: "Bruno Kerky Rw25.."
me: "err..umm..we're inbound Frankfurt...."
cue embarrassed silence...long pause..
Brussels: "Speedbird 2714, direct SPI, contact blah blah . blah...."
Goes to show it could still happen.......If you've been up all night crossing the pond, a bit tired and you hear the words "Rw25" - which is what you'd be expecting to hear.....and you're not familiar with the routings into either Frankfurt or Brussels....
"Hello Speedbird 2714.....Bruno Kerky Runway 25...."
me: "err...say again?"
Brussels: "Bruno Kerky Rw25.."
me: "err..umm..we're inbound Frankfurt...."
cue embarrassed silence...long pause..
Brussels: "Speedbird 2714, direct SPI, contact blah blah . blah...."
Goes to show it could still happen.......If you've been up all night crossing the pond, a bit tired and you hear the words "Rw25" - which is what you'd be expecting to hear.....and you're not familiar with the routings into either Frankfurt or Brussels....
Wrong Airfield
It doesn't only happen to the big boys. When I was training for my PPL at Cambridge one day about 5 years ago and doing circuits, somebody called as being ahead of me and on final. I couldn't see him from base leg and still couldn't see him when I turned final .... although believe me I was looking very hard by this time.
I asked the tower where the previous was and she said she was uncertain and didn't have him in sight so I elected to go round.
She asked again where he was and he said on the ground, runway vacated and would like taxi instrcutions for parking.
She said WHERE on the ground as she couldn't see him.
In front of the museum he said.
Resounding crash of pennies dropping and she said .. in that case I suggest you call DUXFORD on 122.075 for your taxi instructions.
I asked the tower where the previous was and she said she was uncertain and didn't have him in sight so I elected to go round.
She asked again where he was and he said on the ground, runway vacated and would like taxi instrcutions for parking.
She said WHERE on the ground as she couldn't see him.
In front of the museum he said.
Resounding crash of pennies dropping and she said .. in that case I suggest you call DUXFORD on 122.075 for your taxi instructions.
Last edited by Dave Gittins; 9th Sep 2003 at 22:54.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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IO, sorry late arrival to post...hols
Bin in ATC for 34 years and don't recall an ATCO [Irish or Brit] being "binned" for [nearly] landing in Belgium rather than Germany...[lack of] pilot input?
On the other hand..I remember an Air France overshooting Woodford [four miles SE MAN] not once, but 3 times
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy
Bin in ATC for 34 years and don't recall an ATCO [Irish or Brit] being "binned" for [nearly] landing in Belgium rather than Germany...[lack of] pilot input?
On the other hand..I remember an Air France overshooting Woodford [four miles SE MAN] not once, but 3 times
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy
I'll mak siccar
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Just came across the reference to that German aircraft I mentioned on 8 September. 23 June 1942, a German pilot, disoriented after a battle with Spitfires over the Channel, landed at Pembrey in South Wales.
The aircraft was undamaged. It was taken to Farnborough and there tested against the Spitfire IX.
What was it?
An FW 190.
Ooooops.
The aircraft was undamaged. It was taken to Farnborough and there tested against the Spitfire IX.
What was it?
An FW 190.
Ooooops.
Last edited by Davaar; 22nd Sep 2003 at 05:06.
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In 1967, the crew of a TWA 707 mistook the Ohio State University Airport (5004' rwy 9R - 27L Class D) for Port Columbus International Airport (10250' rwy 10R - 28L). After shuttling all passengers and baggage to Port Columbus, and removing all galley equipment and seats, the plane was light enough to depart for the larger facility across town. (KCMH - Class C)
They are just about 10 miles apart (maybe less... KOSU sits on outer airspace ring if KCMH) and have almost the same direction for rwys.. just lenght is a little different. Almost in line with each other too... KOSU is a little bit north of KCMH's final
They are just about 10 miles apart (maybe less... KOSU sits on outer airspace ring if KCMH) and have almost the same direction for rwys.. just lenght is a little different. Almost in line with each other too... KOSU is a little bit north of KCMH's final
