On 2 February 2006 at approximately 1308 Eastern Daylight-saving
Time, a US registered Boeing Company 747-422 (747) aircraft was
taxiing for departure at Melbourne Airport, Vic. At the same time,
a Boeing Company 767-338ER (767) aircraft was stationary on taxiway
Echo and waiting in line to depart from runway 16. The tail section
of the 767 was protruding into taxiway Alpha while it was
stationary on taxiway Echo awaiting a clearance to enter the
runway.
The pilots of the 747 received a clearance to taxi, which
included a taxi route from the international apron to the holding
point on taxiway Bravo, for a departure from runway 16, via
taxiways Uniform then Alpha. The pilot in command of the 747
deviated from the taxi clearance issued by the surface movement
controller and turned the 747 right into taxiway Echo, to pass
behind the 767. The left wing tip of the 747 collided with the
right horizontal stabiliser of the 767 as the 747 crew attempted to
manoeuvre behind the 767.
The taxiway dimensions and markings at Melbourne Airport
complied with international standards and were suitable for use by
the aircraft types involved in the occurrence.
The 747 crew was aware of the 767, and chose to pass behind it
rather than wait on taxiway Alpha until the 767 was no longer
obstructing the taxiway. The decision by the pilot in command of
the 747 to deviate off the centreline of taxiway Alpha and taxi
behind the 767 did not comply with the taxi clearance issued by the
SMC. It was based on his assessment that it was safe to do so. The
pilot in command of the 747 misjudged the distance between the
wingtip of the 747 and the right horizontal stabiliser of the 767,
which resulted in the collision.
