CT114019 Tutor
27 Feb 1999
15 Wing Moose Jaw, Runway 29R
The aircraft was number six of a 7-plane
formation landing after an on-field air show practice
at 15 Wing Moose Jaw on 27 February 1999. During touchdown
on runway 29R, the aircraft experienced a firm landing.
The aircraft then bounced and became airborne again.
The nose of the aircraft then rotated quickly towards
the ground and the nose landing gear contacted the
runway surface heavily. The aircraft veered to the
right, the nose landing gear collapsed and the pilot
maintained directional control using differential
braking. The aircraft then skidded to a stop. There
was no interference with the rest of the formation.
The pilot shut down the engine, turned off electrical
equipment and egressed from the aircraft. Fire fighting
vehicles and an ambulance arrived on scene within
minutes, but were not utilised. There were no injuries.
The positions in the formation are depicted
as follows:
The team was under training for the
1999 air show season. Three members of this 7-plane
formation were first-year team members (numbers 1,5
and 6). Numbers 2 and 3 were ex-team members who had
joined the team partway through the training syllabus.
They had replaced one team member, who had departed
because of an imposed weight restriction on Tutor
aircrew, and Snowbird 2, who had suffered fatal injuries
in the December 1998 Snowbird accident. The team had
dealt with these set-backs effectively and responsibly.
The collapse of the nose gear was due
to excessive bending overload caused by poor landing
technique. Contributory causes were training practices
at 431 Squadron and the lack of clear direction for
7-plane landing irregularities and emergencies in
Squadron Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's).
A number of effective measures have
been taken to date which were also fall-outs from
the December 1998 Snowbird accident;
