Baramati Airfield: Trainee Plane Overruns Runway

A Cessna C172 training aircraft operated by the Academy of Carver Aviation suffered a runway excursion on Sunday afternoon at Baramati Airfield in Maharashtra. The incident occurred at approximately 12.25pm during a mandatory practice session for circuit and landing emergencies.

The single-engine aircraft, registered as VT-SEX, was under the command of flight instructor Capt. Chirag Shashikant Doifode, with Cadet Abhijeet Jundre at the controls. The crew initiated dynamic emergency drills on the runway, which included a planned rejected take-off practice maneuver.

Following the first drill, the Cessna lined up at the opposite threshold of Runway 11 to perform a second back-to-back rejected take-off exercise. However, during the second exercise, the crew was unable to bring the aircraft to a complete stop within the remaining available landing distance.

The Cessna overran the paved threshold of Runway 29, rolled onto the extended paved overrun strip, and veered off to the right into the surrounding terrain before coming to a halt. Local law enforcement and airfield emergency services responded immediately to the site.

Pune Rural superintendent of police, Sandeep Singh Gill, confirmed that both aircrew members escaped unharmed. The aircraft sustained significant front-end damage, including visible damage to the propeller blades, engine cowling, and nose landing gear assembly.

The Academy of Carver Aviation is a Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)-approved flying training organisation headquartered at Baramati. An investigation team from the DGCA Air Safety division was dispatched to Baramati Airfield to examine the airframe, inspect the runway conditions, review cockpit procedures, and determine the contributing factors.

The incident highlights the importance of rigorous training and safety protocols in the aviation industry. The DGCA's investigation will aim to identify the causes of the incident and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The incident has also raised concerns about the safety of training aircraft and the need for regular maintenance and inspection. The Academy of Carver Aviation has a reputation for providing high-quality training to aspiring pilots, and the incident is likely to be thoroughly investigated to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.

In conclusion, the incident at Baramati Airfield is a reminder of the risks involved in aviation training and the need for constant vigilance and adherence to safety protocols. The investigation into the incident will provide valuable insights into the causes of the incident and help to improve safety standards in the aviation industry.