What happened
On Friday, 8 March 2024, an Aero Commander 500S registered VH-MEH and operated by GAM Air made an unexpected emergency landing in a paddock near the Great Western Highway close to Bathurst, NSW. The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, skillfully managed the situation and sustained no injuries.
At approximately 17:39 local time, the aircraft descended into a paddock near Bathurst. The pilot successfully controlled the emergency landing despite the challenging circumstances of landing in an unprepared field. Local emergency services attended the scene, though the incident was determined to be unrelated to a simultaneous road incident in the vicinity.
The aircraft sustained no damage in the landing. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) acknowledged the occurrence and initiated an investigation to determine the specifics of the emergency, including any potential mechanical or navigational factors that may have contributed to the event.