Landing Accident – Vazhka High Wing Tandem at Wedderburn Airfield, New South Wales, Australia – March 14, 2025

Date:
Friday, March 14, 2025

Time:
c. 10:15 Local Time

Type of Aircraft:
Vazhka High Wing Tandem (Ultralight)

Owner/Operator:
Private

Registration:
19-2161

MSN:
1

Year of Manufacture:
Not specified

Engine Model:
Not specified

Fatalities:
0 / Occupants: 1

Other Fatalities:
0

Aircraft Damage:
Substantial

Location:
Wedderburn Airfield (YWBN), Wedderburn, NSW – Australia

Phase:
Landing

Nature:
Private

Departure Airport:
Wedderburn Airport (YWBN)

Destination Airport:
Wedderburn Airport (YWBN)

Confidence Rating:
Information is only available from news, social media, or unofficial sources

Circumstances:

On March 14, 2025, a privately operated Vazhka High Wing Tandem ultralight aircraft was involved in an accident while landing at Wedderburn Airfield in New South Wales, Australia. The incident occurred during the final approach to runway 35, when the aircraft clipped the roof of a hangar located near the airstrip.

The impact caused substantial damage to the ultralight, leaving it teetering precariously on the edge of the hangar roof. The pilot, a 74-year-old man and the sole occupant of the aircraft, became trapped in the wreckage. Emergency services were alerted, and a coordinated rescue effort was initiated.

Firefighters used a cherry picker to scale the five-meter-high hangar and stabilize the aircraft before extracting the injured pilot. A specialized technique known as a “ladder slide” was employed to lower the pilot safely to the ground. Fire and Rescue NSW Superintendent Adam Dewberry described the method as safe, reliable, and effective for rescuing casualties from elevated positions.

The pilot sustained non-life-threatening injuries, including a head injury and cuts to his arms. He received initial treatment on the hangar roof under the wing of the damaged aircraft before being transported by air ambulance to Liverpool Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.

Authorities removed the wreckage using a crane, and investigators are now examining the cause of the accident. Factors such as weather conditions, pilot error, and potential mechanical issues are likely to be reviewed. Superintendent Dewberry noted that the pilot was “extremely lucky” to survive the crash, as incidents involving aircraft striking buildings often result in fatalities.

This incident highlights the risks associated with operating small, lightweight aircraft in close proximity to structures and underscores the importance of maintaining situational awareness during critical phases of flight.