Last night, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was informed that a Cessna 206 aircraft had disappeared from radar near Cairns at approximately 6:51pm EST. The weather at the time was reported to be very poor, with low cloud, restricted visibility and heavy rain. It is believed that there were 2 persons on board the aircraft and search and rescue operation was commenced immediately. This morning, Queensland police reported that one body and a small amount of aircraft wreckage had been recovered. ATSB…

A media conference to release the Preliminary Factual Report on the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the A340-500 Tail Strike at Melbourne Airport on 20 March 2009, will be held on: Thursday 30 April 2009 Where: ATSB offices, Level 2, 62 Northbourne Avenue, CANBERRA Time: 10:30 am (local time) Mr Julian Walsh, Director of Aviation Safety Investigation will discuss factual information known to the investigation team at this time and will outline the investigation process.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an interim factual Report on its investigation into the Qantas Boeing 747 depressurisation event that occurred 475 km north-west of Manila, Philippines on 25 July 2008. The ATSB's preliminary Report, released in August 2008, provided details on the circumstances of the accident, in which a passenger oxygen cylinder (the number 4 cylinder) failed and ruptured the aircraft's fuselage, while the…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has released an interim factual Report into the accident involving the Qantas Airbus A330-303 in-flight upset, 154 km west of Learmonth WA, 7 October 2008. The ATSB's preliminary Report, released on 14 November 2008, provided details of the circumstances of the accident, in which the aircraft abruptly pitched nose-down twice while in normal cruise flight. The aircraft (registered VH-QPA) was being…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was advised on 27 December 2008 of an occurrence that day involving a Qantas Airbus A330-300 aircraft while in cruise at FL360 (36,000 ft) enroute from Perth to Singapore. At about 0829 UTC (1729 Local Time), the autopilot disconnected and the crew received an ECAM message (NAV IR 1 Fault) indicating a problem with ADIRU Number 1. The crew actioned the Airbus Operations Engineering Bulletin (OEB) procedure by selecting the IR 1 push-button to OFF and the ADR 1 push-button to OFF. Both OFF lights illuminated. The crew elected to return to Perth and an…

The ATSB has a team of four investigators at the site of the Beech King Air accident near Normanton in Queensland. The team will be examining the aircraft and its systems. Based on initial information, pilot and passenger incapacitation will also be considered. In June 1999 another Beech King Air was involved in an incident where the cabin pressurisation system did not operate and the pilot became temporarily incapacitated. Although the final report is yet to be released, the ATSB issued interim recommendations on 28 July and 7 October 1999 regarding: a)…

The ATSB has a team of four investigators at the site of the Beech King Air accident near Normanton in Queensland. The team will be examining the aircraft and its systems. Based on initial information, pilot and passenger incapacitation will also be considered. In June 1999 another Beech King Air was involved in an incident where the cabin pressurisation system did not operate and the pilot became temporarily incapacitated. Although the final report is yet to be released, the ATSB issued interim recommendations on 28 July and 7 October 1999 regarding: a)…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation into the accident involving an Airbus A330-300 aircraft operating as Qantas flight 72 on a flight from Singapore to Perth on 7 October 2008 is progressing well. The ATSB has scheduled the media conference this evening to coincide with the release of an Operators Information Telex/Flight Operations Telex, which is being sent by Airbus to operators of all Airbus aircraft. The aim of that telex is to: update operators on the factors identified to date that led to the accident involving QF72, provide operational recommendations to mitigate…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has commenced an investigation into a reported High Profile incident where the crews of an A320 aircraft and a Boeing 767 took evasive action in response to a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) Resolution Advisory when they were apparently cleared to fly at the same flight level in opposite directions. The ATSB investigation team includes investigators with specialist Air Traffic Control and Human Performance skills. One aspect of the investigation will involve…

Last night, 31st May 2000, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) was notified that the crew of a Piper Navajo Chieftain, registered VH-MZK, enroute Adelaide to Whyalla had initiated a distress call indicating engine failure. Reportedly, there were eight persons on board the aircraft. A Royal Australian Air Force aircraft in the area initiated an immediate search for the aircraft. At 6.00am this morning, 1 June 2000, Australian Search and Rescue confirmed with the Bureau that wreckage from the aircraft has been located. The ATSB has dispatched a…