Triple check that the landing surface is clear

[pelmet]

Of course, that applies to any runway but some airports use the grass beside the paved runway for aircraft ops as well but without the normal runway edge markings. That the area can be used for aircraft ops may be obvious to you and me but one never knows when someone else will make an assumption that they are well clear of the landing surface when in fact they are on it, such as the operator of this cherry picker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... z07Q5Etyjc

[AirFrame]

Of course, that applies to any runway but some airports use the grass beside the paved runway for aircraft ops as well but without the normal runway edge markings. That the area can be used for aircraft ops may be obvious to you and me but one never knows when someone else will make an assumption that they are well clear of the landing surface when in fact they are on it, such as the operator of this cherry picker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... z07Q5Etyjc

Ooh... That'll leave a dent.

Looking at the pilot after everything stopped moving, he would understandably be shaken but he looks completely confused as well... The "WTF" look on his face says a lot. I wonder how he missed seeing the cherry picker? Or if he just assumed the landing surface would be clear as it has been many times before?

[Donald]

Tough to tell from the angle of the video, but it appears that the aircraft was drifting right during the landing roll? Maybe he was aware of the zoom boom, but lost just a little directional control once the tail came down?

[aeroncasuperchief]

Lots of blame to go around here
1 why was the cherry picker anywhere near the runway and WHO put it there?
2 This was an airshow, where was the safety coordinator ? in the toilet the whole time?
3 Did the pilot figure he had an extra 2 inches clearance OR did he fail to properly access the landing runway conditions ?

[DH82EH]

From discussions on other forums, apparently the pilot elected to land on the grass because there was some indication issues with (ironically) the left hand gear.
He was likely hyper focused on making a greaser of a landing and was not aware of the boom lift on the grass runway.
This could definitely have been a whole lot worse. Lots of lessons to be learned from this, which is comparatively cheap, when there is no loss of life or severe injury.

[AirFrame]

From discussions on other forums, apparently the pilot elected to land on the grass because there was some indication issues with (ironically) the left hand gear.

Well, at least he can investigate what was wrong with the left gear.

[Antique Pilot]

Of course, that applies to any runway but some airports use the grass beside the paved runway for aircraft ops as well but without the normal runway edge markings. That the area can be used for aircraft ops may be obvious to you and me but one never knows when someone else will make an assumption that they are well clear of the landing surface when in fact they are on it, such as the operator of this cherry picker.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_cont ... z07Q5Etyjc

A reliable source told me that there is a grass landing strip on either side of the pavement at Wanaka. However the Right grass strip was closed. The pilot was probably looking out the keft side keeping the edge of the pavement in sight.
AP