The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has today released its final report into the reopened investigation of the 18 November 2009 accident involving Israel Aircraft Industries Westwind 1124A aircraft, VH-NGA, near Norfolk Island. The flight, which was conducting an air ambulance flight, took off from Apia, Samoa, bound for Australia, via Norfolk Island for a fuel stop. On arrival at Norfolk Island, low cloud prevented the crew from making a safe landing. After four unsuccessful approaches, and with insufficient fuel to divert to another airport, the aircraft was ditched into waters 6.…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) Executive Director, Transport Safety, Mr Nat Nagy will provide a briefing on the tragic fatal collision with water involving a single-engine seaplane which occurred at Cowan Creek, Hawkesbury River, NSW on Sunday 31 December 2017. The briefing will outline known facts of the accident, the investigation team’s on-site activities and the investigation process. Who: Mr Nat Nagy, Executive Director, Transport Safety, ATSB What: Will read a short statement before taking questions from media Where: Apple Tree Bay Picnic Area, Apple Tree Bay Road, Ku-…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) Executive Director, Transport Safety, Mr Nat Nagy will provide a briefing on the tragic double fatal accident of a Cessna 310 aircraft which occurred at Johns River, NSW on Saturday 28 October 2017. The briefing will outline known facts of the accident, the investigation team’s on-site activities and the investigation process. Who: Mr Nat Nagy, Executive Director, Transport Safety, ATSB What: Will read a short statement before taking questions from media. Where: Johns River Rest Stop, Johns River Road (between Royan Street and Thomas Street),…

On 11 July 2017, a SOCATA TB-10 Tobago aircraft collided with an object at approximately 6.30pm during its final approach at Parafield Airport in South Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) commenced an investigation and swabs were taken of the damaged area on the leading edge of the right wing. Those swabs were tested for DNA by the Australian Museum, and the results have established that the object struck was a grey-headed flying fox.  This finding is consistent with the known behaviours of flying foxes, who can travel up to 50 kilometres from their roosts to feed at…

The ATSB has launched an investigation into an accident involving a Cessna 182 light aircraft which collided with terrain in the Herberton Range National Park, Queensland at about 10 am on 8 April. The aircraft took off from Mount Garnet airfield sometime after 9 am, heading for Atherton aerodrome. Any witnesses that observed the aircraft are asked to call 1800 992 986 or complete the ATSB’s online witness form. At this stage, the ATSB is liaising with Queensland Police to determine the accessibility of the accident site. The initial ATSB safety investigation will include examination of…

A new report released by the CSIRO today further confirms the most likely location of MH370 is in the new search area identified by the First Principles Review, conducted in November last year. Dr David Griffin from the CSIRO said the new report features data and analysis from ocean testing of an actual Boeing 777 flaperon. “Testing an actual flaperon has added an extra level of assurance to the findings from our earlier drift modelling work,” said Dr David Griffin. “Earlier drift modelling was conducted using replicas of the flaperon found on La Reunion Island. Those replicas had been made…

The ATSB will host a special event Wednesday morning to unveil the propeller of a Supermarine Walrus aircraft generously donated by aviation legend Peter Lloyd, AC OBE MID. Peter will donate this significant piece of Australian aviation history at a ceremony in the foyer of ATSB headquarters at 11 am, AEST, Wednesday 26 April 2017. Attending the event will be: Peter Lloyd, AC OBE MID, President Emeritus and Life Member, Safeskies Australia Mike Mrdak AO, Secretary, Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development Greg Hood, Chief Commissioner, Australian Transport Safety Bureau…

ATSB Investigator Laura Henwood will provide an on-site media briefing at 2 PM (ACST) Thursday, 29 June 2017, at the intersection of Sunnybrae Road and Walker Road, Suttontown, South Australia. Three people died when a SOCATA TB-10 Tobago aircraft, registered VH-YTM, collided with terrain at 10.30 am on Wednesday 28 June 2017. The accident occurred about 3km south-west of Mount Gambier Airport. The briefing will outline the known facts of the accident, the investigation team’s on-site activities and the investigation process. ATSB investigation AO-2017-069 Who:       …

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today released its second interim report into an incident involving a Virgin Australia Regional Airlines ATR 72 aircraft near Sydney on 20 February 2014. During a flight from Canberra to Sydney, the aircraft sustained a 'pitch disconnect' while descending into Sydney. The pitch disconnect occurred when the two flight crew attempted to slow the aircraft down and inadvertently applied opposing control inputs (one pilot pushed the control at the same time the other pilot pulled), and resulted in significant damage to the aircraft's tail structure.…

ATSB Chief Commissioner Greg Hood and SA Police Superintendent James Blandford will provide an on-site media briefing at 11 am (ACST) Thursday, 1 June 2017, at the location of the Renmark aviation accident in South Australia. Three people died when a Cessna Conquest 441 aircraft, registered VH-XMJ, collided with terrain at 4.30 pm on Tuesday 30 May 2017. The accident occurred about 4 km west of the Renmark airport. The briefing will outline the known facts of the accident, the investigation team’s on-site activities and the investigation process. ATSB investigation AO-2017-057 Who:…