Every pilot's worst nightmare is the thought of a collision with another aircraft. History shows that it can be just as catastrophic on the ground as in the air. The industry's worst disaster remains the collision between two Boeing 747s on the runway at Tenerife in 1977, in which 583 people died. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the number one aviation safety issue in the United States is now runway incursions, which are occurring at a rate of about 230 a year. In Australia the figures are a lot lower. The ATSB recorded a total of 89 runway incursions in 1996, 130 in 1998,…

In April 1999 the Australian Transport Council (ATC) agreed to the establishment of an independent review of rail safety arrangements in Australia, focusing particularly on the interstate system. A Standing Committee on Transport (SCOT) steering committee, comprising industry and government representatives, developed the review brief and supervised the conduct of the review by consultants Booz-Allen & Hamilton. The report was finalised in September 1999. ATC Ministers considered the report at their meeting of 12 November 1999, and agreed that: the report's main recommendation of two new…

This report tables rail safety occurrence data by state and territory between 1 January 2001 and 30 June 2010. Data is adjusted biannually to reflect new information that comes to light during the reporting period. There is a lag period of approximately 3 to 4 months between the end of the 6-monthly reporting period and publication of this data. The data is presented as counts, and normalised using kilometres travelled and number of track kilometres. Data presented in this report conforms to ON-S1: Occurrence Notification Standard 1 (2004) and OC-G1: Occurrence Classification Guideline 1 (…

Most aerodromes in Australia are located in uncontrolled airspace and do not have an air traffic control presence. At these non-towered aerodromes, and in the vicinity of them, pilots are responsible for making themselves aware of nearby aircraft and maintaining separation. This report aims to give pilots an appreciation of the types of safety events that have been associated with operations at non-towered aerodromes and provide education on expected behaviours to assist pilots in being prepared for the risks. Generally, operations at non-towered aerodromes can be considered to be safe, but…

Summary Most aerodromes in Australia are located in uncontrolled airspace and consequently do not have an air traffic control presence. At and around non-controlled aerodromes, pilots are responsible for making themselves aware of nearby aircraft and maintaining separation. This report aims to provide pilots with an appreciation of the types of safety events that are associated with operations at non-controlled aerodromes and provide education on expected behaviours to assist pilots in being prepared for the risks.  Generally, operations at non-towered aerodromes can be considered to be…

Review by the Chief Commissioner The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) became a separate statutory agency on 1 July 2009. This was the final step in the transition to independence from being an operational division of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. This Annual Report covers the first year of operations under those new arrangements. Operational start‑up for the new organisation was smooth and well‑controlled, thanks in large part to the hard work of our corporate services staff and our colleagues in the Infrastructure Department…

With the intensity of agricultural related aviation activity increasing at this time of the year with activities such as locust spotting and spraying, it is important that all aerial work pilots maintain an awareness of the fatal consequences of fatigue while carrying out these activities. The ATSB was recently notified of an incident where a pilot undertaking locust spotting activities needed to be woken by an observer on the aircraft. The pilot reportedly flew part-time, and his fatigue may have been related to his other activities as a farmer. Not only is fatigue brought on by the amount…

Two aviation occurrences in 1999, one of them a fatal mustering incident and the other a wheels-up landing, highlight some of the potential hazards of fatigue on flying performance. Mustering accident A newly-licensed private pilot was fatally injured at Mindaroo Station in Western Australia when mustering sheep with a Cessna 172. The accident happened late in the afternoon at the end of more than eight hours of low-level flying following nine days of intense flying activity. During the nine days, the pilot had flown 68 (tachometer) hours. The flying was both mentally and physically…

The ATSB has issued three safety recommendations arising from the ongoing investigation into the circumstances in which a Piper PA31-350 Chieftain ditched in Spencer Gulf SA with the loss of eight lives during a regular public transport (RPT) service from Adelaide to Whyalla on 31 May 2000 (Occurrence 200002157). The recommendations relate to mixture leaning procedures and the carriage and use of life saving equipment. Immediately prior to the accident the pilot gave a MAYDAY report to Flight Service indicating that the aircraft had experienced two engine failures. The investigation found…

Bob Kells and his investigation team had arrived at the accident site by helicopter. It had been at least a day since the Twin Otter had struck trees nine kilometres south west of Simbai in the Bismark Ranges, Papua New Guinea, when the crew had tried to fly it out of a steep valley. It was an incredible sight. The fuselage was intact. The wings had been taken off by the trees. Ahead of it was a precipice -- a steep drop from which there may have been no survivors had the aircraft gone over. It was a unique situation. Bob had been able to interview the crew in hospital and they talked openly…