WA SKYDIVING Academy’s chief instructor has spoken out following an on-ground incident involving a light plane in Pinjarra last week.
On Sunday afternoon, two planes and a vehicle were damaged at the popular skydiving drop zone after a pilot overshot the runway during landing.
The plane involved was initially reported to have been a Waco bi-plane, but it was the company’s airvan which landed long before colliding with the Waco and a parked LandCruiser.
Mr O’Neill said the airvan had been “taking off and landing all day” without incident when the experienced pilot misjudged the landing and lost control of the plane which sustained substantial damage.
Academy staff having a sausage sizzle in a carpark next to the runway had to duck for cover before the airvan hit Mr O’Neill’s vehicle and shattered its windscreen.
There were no major injuries reported, although Mr O’Neill grazed his arm and hurt his shoulder trying to avoid the plane.
“Both damaged planes will be taken to Jandakot for a thorough assessment,” Mr O’Neill said.
“But it’s business as usual.
“We have more planes.”
The pilot involved in the incident was not injured and Mr O’Neill said at no time were spectators in danger.
