Investigation number
199602696
Occurrence date
State
Queensland
Report release date
Report status
Final
Investigation type
Occurrence Investigation
Investigation status
Completed
Aviation occurrence type
Loss of separation
Occurrence category
Incident

FACTUAL INFORMATION A Piper PA23 aircraft,VH-MBU, on a right base leg for runway 15 conflicted with a Boeing 737 on left base leg as a result of a co-ordination breakdown. VH-MBU was inbound from Stoney Creek and the Approach 2 controller co-ordinated with the Tower Controller to process the aircraft via right base leg behind a Boeing 747 on final approach for runway 15. The pilot was asked to sight the B747, which he did. The pilot was then told to contact the Tower. There was no co-ordination with Approach 1. The Approach 1 controller had transferred a Boeing 737 VH-TAK, to the Tower and asked Approach 2 what he was doing with MBU and should TAK be following MBU, to which he replied in the affirmative. TAK was turning left base on Tower frequency by this time. Co-ordination with the Tower Controller alerted him to the confliction. The Tower Controller advised MBU to orbit right base and TAK was allowed to continue with the visual approach. Radar data confirmed that the two aircraft conflicted with a separation of 1.5 NM at the closest point of approach. ANALYSIS The Approach 2 controller failed to co-ordinate the landing sequence with the Approach 1 controller. The reason for this lapse in performance was not positively established but the controller's supervisor thought that a desire to provide an expeditious service may have been a contributing factor.

Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
Piper Aircraft Corp
Model
PA-23-250
Registration
VH-MBU
Sector
Piston
Departure point
Mareeba QLD
Destination
Cairns QLD
Damage
Nil
Aircraft Details
Manufacturer
The Boeing Company
Model
737-376
Registration
VH-TAK
Sector
Jet
Departure point
Brisbane QLD
Destination
Cairns QLD
Damage
Nil