Cessna's mini-nosedive triggers major callout

The Cessna's front wheel collapsed during taxiing. Picture / Alan Gibson

Emergency vehicles turned out in numbers at Tauranga Airport yesterday after the wheel of a small plane collapsed, tipping its nose into the ground.

The front wheel of the single-engine Cessna Cardinal collapsed while it was taxiing, leaving three people onboard shaken but unharmed, and prompting the callout of fire engines, ambulance and police.

A witness said the mini-nosedive, which is believed to have been caused by a mechanical fault, happened in slow-motion and was "quite comical".

"The whole thing just leaned forward and it just stopped," Daria King said.

Ms King said the pilot and his two passengers looked scared when they got out.

An airport fire engine was the first vehicle to respond to reports about 1.30pm of a crash near the apron where planes park. Two St John Ambulance vehicles and two police cars followed. The Fire Service sent seven appliances, but five were turned back when it became apparent the incident was minor.

Airport spokesman Grayson Ottaway said the control tower had activated a crash button and it was standard for emergency services to respond in large numbers when that happened.

The four-seater Cessna is operated by Tauranga Aero Club and was taxiing after landing when the nose tipped.

It was lifted off the ground and towed back to a hangar afterwards.

The pilot would not comment but Tauranga Aero Club chief pilot Rosanne Moody said a mechanical fault was believed to be responsible.

The incident had been reported to the Civil Aviation Authority, she said.

Mr Ottaway said the plane was likely to need a new propeller.