Skip to main content

Parking problem

An Australian couple caused something of a parking problem with their vehicle in a quiet residential Sydney side-street. The issue was that their vehicle should have been in the air rather than on the ground, as it was a single engine Piper aircraft.
February 27, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
An Australian couple caused something of a parking problem with their vehicle in a quiet residential Sydney side-street. The issue was that their vehicle should have been in the air rather than on the ground, as it was a single engine Piper aircraft. The incident occurred when the couple encountered engine problems during a routine flight and although they tried to land their aircraft at a nearby airport, the aeroplane lost height too quickly as it lost power and soon proved unable to reach the airport. As the pilot struggled to maintain altitude, the Piper clipped some power lines, shearing off a wing and then tumbled upside down into the street, much to the alarm of the local residents.

Luckily the couple, and their dog, were able to scramble from the aircraft and nor did the Piper catch fire or were any other people injured in the crash. However, as the aircraft hit the power lines it did cut off electricity to around 7,000 homes and eight sets of traffic lights in the vicinity, causing additional traffic disturbance. The couple were taken to hospital following the incident for medical checks but were later allowed to leave having only suffered minor cuts and bruises. The dog was not able to comment on its traumatic descent or on its willingness to face future flights.

Related Content

  • Bridge collapse on key I-5 route in Washington State
    June 24, 2013
    The news that a key highway bridge has collapsed in the US comes as gloomy reading for all in the highway sector. When a section of the Interstate 5 Bridge over the Skagit River in Washington failed in May 2013, a number of vehicles were plunged into the river. Luckily no-one was killed in the incident on the route, which is one of the main links between the US and Canada, and the parallel bridge was able to carry traffic, albeit with delays for users.
  • Pan-European enforcement of driving laws due
    September 30, 2013
    Pan-European enforcement of driving regulations should catch offenders and help improve Europe’s road safety - Mike Woof reports. Agreements are being reached that will see Pan-European enforcement of driving regulations. Drivers will now face being penalised for any offences committed in other European countries. The change is due on 7th November 2013. After this date EU Member States will commence the cross border exchange of data relating to road traffic offences. For this scheme to work, eight offences
  • High-speed pursuits
    February 23, 2012
    Two Italian policemen were left somewhat red-faced after being involved in an accident when returning from a convention where they had been speaking to students about road safety. The policemen crashed their Lamborghini high-speed pursuit vehicle, one two donated by the manufacturer to the police, into a rather more mundane Seat Ibiza. During the incident the Lamborghini slammed into a line of parked cars, with one of the vehicles then ending up on the roof of the high performance pursuit car. The front of
  • Nepal safety issues
    April 27, 2012
    The authorities in Nepal are establishing a road safety plan that is intended to reduce the country’s annual injury and fatality rates. Nepal’s Traffic Police Directorate recently announced figures showing that of the 8,503 accidents recorded in the 2010-2011 financial year, 4,914 occurred within the Kathmandu Valley. The police also said that factors causing accidents included the poor state of gravel and surfaced roads and inadequate traffic signs. Potholes are a major problem on Nepal’s road system accor