Sun glare at Launceston Airport caused the pilot of a Pilatus PC-12 to align the aircraft on a taxiway on landing according to an ATSB report released last week.
VH-NWI was on a charter from Essendon to Launceston in June this year carrying the pilot and four passengers when the pilot inadvertently lined-up the aircraft to land Taxiway A instead of Runway 32L. An instructor in a Cessna 152 at the holding point radioed a warning and Launy Tower instructed the pilot of NWI to go around.
However, before the go-around instruction was issued, the pilot had elected to perform a low-level S-turn across to the runway, passing 15 m behind the holding point at approximately 45 feet AGL. The pilot later reported they were not aware of the Cessna at the holding point. The pilot executed the go-around from above the runway and completed a circuit to land without incident.
ATSB investigators found that had the pilot continued with the landing, the Pilatus would have landed over the Cessna, but most likely have struck barriers on the taxiway that marked a closed section.
According to the ATSB, the sun at the time was 10o left of the runway centreline and 12o above the horizon. Despite the aircraft being fitted with visors, the pilot reported having to hold their right hand up to shade their eyes on approach.
ATSB Director Transport Safety Stuart Macleod said that pilots needed to be aware of the impact of sun glare and use a secondary method of determining their alignment with the runway.
“When flying visually in such conditions, pilots should crosscheck against available flight and navigation instruments in conjunction with external indicators, such as airport lighting, to verify that the aircraft is on the intended flight path, he said.”
“If a discrepancy is identified below an appropriate stabilised approach height, an immediate missed approach should be conducted.”
Investigators also questioned if the runway designation of 32L at an airport with only one runway could have caused confusion, but the pilot was very familiar with Launcestion and did not report this as an issue.
The full report is on the ATSB website.