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Date:
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Time:
Not specified (Incident reported around 12:00 PM local time)
Type of Aircraft:
Ryan ST-M/2
Owner/Operator:
Private
Registration:
VH-AWG
MSN:
459
Year of Manufacture:
1940
Engine Model:
Menasco Manufacturing Company PIRATE C4S
Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: Not specified
Other Fatalities:
0
Aircraft Damage:
Substantial
Location:
Melbourne-Tyabb Airport, VIC (YTYA) – Australia
Phase:
Landing
Nature:
Private
Departure Airport:
Not specified
Destination Airport:
Melbourne-Tyabb Airport, VIC (YTYA)
Confidence Rating:
Information is only available from news, social media, or unofficial sources
Circumstances:
On March 22, 2025, a vintage Ryan ST-M/2 aircraft (registration VH-AWG) overturned during landing at Melbourne-Tyabb Airport on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. The pilot, a man in his 70s and the sole occupant, managed to self-extricate from the wreckage and was transported to Frankston Hospital with non-life-threatening upper body injuries.
Emergency services responded to the scene after the aircraft flipped onto its roof during the landing roll on grassland adjacent to the airport. The aircraft, built in 1940, sustained substantial damage, though the exact cause of the accident is currently under investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
Preliminary reports suggest the pilot lost control during the landing phase, though factors such as mechanical failure, weather conditions, or operational errors have not yet been ruled out. The ATSB will examine the aircraft’s maintenance history, pilot experience, and environmental conditions to determine the contributing factors.
This incident highlights the challenges of operating vintage aircraft, which often require meticulous maintenance and specialized handling. The pilot’s ability to exit the aircraft unaided underscores the importance of emergency preparedness in general aviation.
Carter Capner Law monitors accidents involving light aircraft, helicopters, charter flights, balloons, commuter aircraft and airlines throughout Australia and overseas to spotlight safety issues of concern to our clients and to demonstrate those situations in which they may have a right to an insurance or compensation recovery. We act for pilots, passengers, operators, aircraft owners and aviation employees worldwide. Call today on 1300 529 529 or click here to reach Carter Capner Law. Click on Client Showcase to view our history of aircraft accident compensation claims.