Investigation number
199401646
Occurrence date
State
Victoria
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence category
Loss of separation
Occurrence class
Incident

The crew on VH-EWA were conducting circuit training at Melbourne Airport. On the base leg turn for runway 34 the crew reported sighting another aircraft which had passed above them. The other aircraft was VH-TXN, which had entered the Melbourne control zone without a clearance. The pilot of VH-TXN was proceeding from Tyabb to Shepparton and the pilot was intending to track around the southern and western boundaries of the zone. No contact was made with the aircraft until the pilot later called on the Radar Advisory Service (RAS) frequency at Rockbank. Subsequently the aircraft again entered the zone without a clearance near Sunbury. The aircraft was not on the RAS frequency at the time. Subsequently RAS made radio contact and the pilot was given radar headings to clear the zone near Beveridge. Later checking of the plan for VH-TXN showed the pilot had made calculation errors in estimating the appropriate headings to fly and also errors in the time intervals. Enroute navigation errors also occurred. Significant Factors The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the incident: 1. Poor flight planning by the pilot of VH-TXN. 2. Poor inflight navigation procedures by the pilot of VH-TXN.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Fokker B.V.
Model
F28 MK 4000
Registration
VH-EWA
Sector
Jet
Departure point
Melbourne VIC
Destination
Melbourne VIC
Damage
Nil
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-28-181
Registration
VH-TXN
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Tyabb VIC
Destination
Shepparton VIC
Damage
Nil