A pilot had to be directed back to Newcastle Airport after mistaking the busy A1 dual carriageway for the runway.
The serious incident happened during the 72-year-old pilot’s first solo night training flight after taking off from Newcastle Airport shortly after 7.45pm on January 9 this year.
According to a report into the mishap, the pilot ‘misidentified’ the road lights on the nearby A1 dual carriageway for runway lights and drifted south of the airport.
Read more: Northern Echo's 'Put in a Pound' campaign passes half way mark - how you can donate
While he tried to work out where the runway lights were the pilot inadvertently allowed the 48-year-old plane , a light aircraft called a Reims Cessna F172M, to descend to just 300ft above ground level.
The report, published by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch which classified it as a serious incident, recalled how the pilot began to climb again once he realised, he was lower than intended.
To get more stories direct to your email basket go here
Air traffic controllers at Newcastle Airport assisted him to regain contact with the runway where he landed a short time later.
Despite the incident the pilot’s instructor cleared him to continue with his night flight training following a ‘long’ debrief.
No one was injured in the incident.
Read next:
- Pilot seriously injured in County Durham crash after his plane landed on top of him
- Woman's 'living nightmare' after facing tooth loss and infections caused by dentist
- Girlfriend of boxing champion is pregnant months after his tragic death in Australia
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel