The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the circumstances surrounding the Piper Navajo Chieftain four-fatality accident near Condobolin on 2 December 2005. Four ATSB investigators have been on site near Condobolin since Saturday morning. The Piper Navajo Chieftain was reportedly being flown by a commercial pilot and was en route from Archerfield to Swan Hill via Griffith. Weather in the Condobolin area was severe with extremely strong wind and thunderstorms across the aircraft's track. The pilot reported diverting around weather and shortly after this communication was…

Failing to keep a proper lookout was the major cause of yet another collision between a trading ship and a commercial fishing vessel, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The ATSB report into the incident states that, at 0535 (local time) on 15 April 2005, the Greek registered bulk carrier Spartia and the Western Australian cray fishing vessel Hannah Lee collided 17 nautical miles west of Cape Bouvard. Spartias crew had detected the fishing vessel about 20 minutes prior to the collision, using the ships radars. They had assessed that a…

A 20-year-old engineer cadet died from severe head injuries after falling seven metres while working in a ship's engine room, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The ATSB report into the incident states that, at about 0920 (local time) on 16 May 2005, the engineer cadet on board the South Korean bulk carrier Golden Bell was working with other engine room staff when he fell through an open section of deck grating. The cadet landed seven metres below, on the engine room's bottom deck plates. He suffered severe head and internal injuries…

The electrician on board the Marshall Islands registered Probo Panda died from a heart attack following a suspected electric shock while the ship was at anchor off Gladstone in Queensland on 11 May 2005, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation report released today. The electrician died while working on one of the ship's engine room light fittings. He had been missing for several hours and was only found after a search of the vessel was instigated by the master. The ATSB report into the fatality on board the products / oil / bulk / ore carrier Probo Panda,…

As part of its national safety awareness campaign for commercial fishermen, announced in December 2004, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will be conducting a series of informal face-to-face meetings with fishermen in two ports in northern WA, this week. The aim of the meetings is to raise the awareness of commercial fishermen to similar causal factors, identified by the ATSB during investigations of 23 collisions between trading ships and fishing vessels conducted since 1990. The meetings will complement a safety bulletin, published by the ATSB in December 2004, and form an…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is investigating the circumstances surrounding a Virgin Blue Boeing 737 emergency descent incident on 2 December 2005. The Boeing 737 was being flown from Townsville to Brisbane with a total crew and passengers of 104. During the rapid descent, a number of passengers suffered ear discomfort and some minor injuries. On arrival at Brisbane the injured passengers were taken to hospital for observation and treatment and were discharged following treatment. None of the passengers were admitted to hospital. The flight recorders are being replayed and…

The ATSB's final report into the terrain proximity caution incident to the south-south-east of Canberra at 0544 am on 24 July 2004 has found that the flight crew of the Boeing 737 were affected by fatigue and they misinterpreted the instrument approach chart and entered incorrect data into the flight management computer. The aircraft was being operated on an overnight service from Perth to Canberra, when it proceeded beyond the limits of the Church Creek Holding pattern, 10.9 NM south of Canberra. In doing so the crew manoeuvred the aircraft closer to terrain than intended. As a consequence…

Fatigue was a major contributing factor to the longline fishing vessel Ocean Odyssey collision with the side of the container ship P&O Nedlloyd Taranaki. The ship was drifting while assessing its engine problem when the fishing boat ran into it, according to an ATSB investigation report released today. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau report states that the N.S.W registered Ocean Odyssey collided with the port side of the container ship at about 0244 local time on 29 June 2004 near the entrance to Port Botany, after the boat's skipper had fallen asleep on watch. The boat was…

The ATSB's Preliminary Aviation Safety Investigation Report into the 7 May 2005 Lockhart River accident in which two pilots and 13 passengers perished has found that the Metroliner had descended about 1000 ft below the minimum obstacle clearance altitude when it collided with terrain. The aircraft had cut a swath of less than 100 m through heavy timber on the steep slope. Preliminary information recovered from the flight data recorder and on-site examination of components indicates that both engines were producing about 30 to 35% torque. This is consistent with an approach power setting. The…

The ATSB's final investigation report has found that an Airbus A330 passenger aircraft that landed at Sydney in fog on 6 April last year did so because the adverse weather conditions were unforecast and the flight crew continued to manoeuvre the aircraft for a landing at Sydney past the time they had previously nominated as the latest time for a diversion to Canberra. Since the occurrence safety action has been taken by the air traffic services provider and the Bureau of Meteorology to improve the reporting of weather information to flight crews and to improve the accuracy of fog forecasting…