Photo: Orlando Chiodo
Golfers got a little more than they bargained for when a light plane was forced to make an emergency landing on the 13th hole of Wollongong Golf Course yesterday morning.The plane, a two-seat Cessna 152, encountered fuel troubles during training exercises over City Beach about 11am.With the plane’s engine out of commission, the pilot was forced to choose between a beach landing and putting the aircraft down on the golf course.Just a few minutes later, the Cessna had descended from about 305 metres to touch down on the fairway near the 13th hole, much to the bemusement of the few golfers on the course.
The plane is owned by a Sydney-based consortium but operated by NSW Air Pty Ltd out of the Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park Rail.Marketing manager Barry Sandry said the pilot in control of the Cessna was ‘‘quite accomplished’’ and had logged more than 1000 hours in the air as well as holding commercial and instructors licences.‘‘These guys are trained for that, to be able to land these things anywhere,’’ he said.Even without an engine, the pilot would have been in full control and there was no danger to the plane, its passengers or anyone on the ground, he said.‘‘Basically, an aircraft like that, they’re designed to float anyway...never really at any time was there any danger of a crash,’’ he said.But he admitted that witnessing the little plane come in for its unconventional landing would have been ‘‘fun to watch’’.
Mr Sandry said NSW Air had considered a takeoff from the golf course to get the plane back in the air, but abandoned the idea because the course surface was too wet.The plane was left under guard on the course overnight before it is partially disassembled and transported by truck back to the Illawarra Regional Airport today.Wollongong Golf Club general manager Nerine Ockwell said via email that there was no damage to the course as a result of the emergency landing.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has reportedly decided not to investigate, but has requested a report on the incident.
View Light plane makes emergency landing on Wollongong Golf Course in a larger map
The plane is owned by a Sydney-based consortium but operated by NSW Air Pty Ltd out of the Illawarra Regional Airport at Albion Park Rail.Marketing manager Barry Sandry said the pilot in control of the Cessna was ‘‘quite accomplished’’ and had logged more than 1000 hours in the air as well as holding commercial and instructors licences.‘‘These guys are trained for that, to be able to land these things anywhere,’’ he said.Even without an engine, the pilot would have been in full control and there was no danger to the plane, its passengers or anyone on the ground, he said.‘‘Basically, an aircraft like that, they’re designed to float anyway...never really at any time was there any danger of a crash,’’ he said.But he admitted that witnessing the little plane come in for its unconventional landing would have been ‘‘fun to watch’’.Mr Sandry said NSW Air had considered a takeoff from the golf course to get the plane back in the air, but abandoned the idea because the course surface was too wet.The plane was left under guard on the course overnight before it is partially disassembled and transported by truck back to the Illawarra Regional Airport today.Wollongong Golf Club general manager Nerine Ockwell said via email that there was no damage to the course as a result of the emergency landing.The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has reportedly decided not to investigate, but has requested a report on the incident.View Light plane makes emergency landing on Wollongong Golf Course in a larger map
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