MAF Cessna 172 makes precautionary landing on Queensland road

By Andrew Curran.

A Cessna 172 operated by Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) International (Aviation Services) made a precautionary landing on a remote road in Queensland over the weekend.

At approximately 1:00 pm (local time) on Sunday, August 16, the single-engine Skyhawk SP, registered as VH-MAO (msn 172S8369), was flying from Winton (WIN) to Mareeba (MRG) when it encountered engine problems.

An MAF International spokesperson described it as a "routine training flight".

The pilot, flying solo, made the landing on the Kennedy Developmental as a precautionary measure, around 280 kilometres short of Mareeba, where the Australian division of MAF International operates its MRO facility and training centre.

ADS-B flight-tracking data shows the aircraft landed on the road near Blackbraes National Park, south of Lyndhurst. MAF International confirmed the location.

"The pilot was fully qualified, and the flight was authorised in accordance with the flight school's standard operating procedures," said MAF International's Director of Asia-Pacific Programmes, Nick Hitchins. "It is a testament to the skill and training of our pilots that no one was hurt, and the aircraft was not damaged."

Late on Sunday, a response team was on site.

Mission Aviation Fellowship is a charity that provides aviation services to isolated communities in Africa and the Asia-Pacific, including Arnhem Land, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. The training centre at Mareeba trains pilots for work in such programmes and for careers in aviation. The MRO facility handles heavy maintenance tasks such as aircraft overhauls, repairs, modifications, upgrades and repainting.

The MAF International spokesperson said the organisation was co-operating with authorities investigating the incident.

Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority records show MAF International is the registered owner and operator of 18 aircraft in Australia, including one Vulcanair P68R Victor, three Cessna 208s, three Cessna 172s and eleven GippsAero GA8s.

Photo: MAF International.
Contact the writer: andrew@aerosouthpacific.com