A student pilot and his instructor are counting their blessings after walking away with only minor injuries when their light aircraft made an emergency landing on Mona Vale Golf Club last Sunday afternoon.
The Piper Cherokee training aircraft, carrying trainee Brian Welch and instructor Ross Curracan, experienced engine failure whilst returning from Camden to their flying school in Shellharbour around 2pm on 17 August.
With the engine powerless and altitude dropping rapidly, the experienced instructor was forced to make an emergency landing on the golf course’s 11th hole, narrowly missing golfers who were playing at the time.
Golfers on the course watched in shock as the aircraft glided in with no engine power. Local golf club member Callum Nicholls, who witnessed the dramatic landing, described how “the plane came in really low over the top of our heads, and there was no propeller movement. It didn’t even sound like an engine was on”.
Both men, aged in their 50s, were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital as a precaution but suffered only minor cuts and lacerations. They have since been discharged and returned home safely.
The aircraft’s owner, Simon Thomas, was attending a Swans AFL match when he received the call about the crash. He had purchased the 1967 Piper Cherokee in October last year for his 19-year-old son to learn to fly. The aircraft is now damaged beyond repair and will be scrapped.
Representatives from Airspeed Flight School Shellharbour commended the instructor’s professional handling of the emergency situation, praising his skill and ability to remain calm under pressure.
Golf course operations resumed the following morning, with maintenance crews working to remove the wreckage and repair the damaged turf. Heavy machinery was required to lift the 900-kilogram aircraft from the course.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched a formal investigation into the incident. The ATSB is calling for witnesses who have video of Sunday’s aircraft accident at the Mona Vale Golf Course to make contact via their website.
Investigators will interview both pilots, witnesses, and examine any recovered aircraft components at their technical facilities in Canberra. A final report will be published once the investigation is complete.
The dramatic emergency landing has attracted international attention, with footage of the crash being widely shared on social media platforms. Despite the frightening circumstances, the incident serves as a testament to proper pilot training and emergency procedures.
For Mr Thomas, the immediate concern was the safety of those aboard. When asked about replacing the aircraft, he admitted he would need to discuss the matter with his wife first.
The investigation continues, and anyone with video footage of the aircraft during any stage of its flight is encouraged to submit it through the ATSB website at atsb.gov.au/witness.
Published 18-August-2025
