DC-8-63 aircraft CF-CPQ and Boeing 727 aircraft VH-TJA at Sydney (Kingsford- Smith) Airport, NSW, 29 January 1971

At approximately 2137 hours Eastern Standard Time on 29 January 1971, a Trans-Australia Airlines Boeing 727 aircraft, VH-TJA, struck the tail fin of a Canadian Pacific Airlines DC-8-63 aircraft, CF-CPQ, whilst the former was taking off on Runway 16 at Sydney (Kingsford-Smith) Airport, New South Wales. 

Both aircraft were engaged in regular public transport services and the Boeing 727 aircraft continued with its take-off but landed again at Sydney Airport 40 minutes later after dumping fuel and when preparations for the emergency landing had been completed. At the time of the collision the DC-8-63 aircraft was on the ground, having just landed, and it taxied under its own power to the parking apron. 

Both aircraft were substantially damaged in the collision but none of the 240 persons on board the two aircraft was injured.

Cause 

The cause of this accident was that the taxying clearance given after landing was misread by the flight crew of CF-CPQ and this error was not detected by the aerodrome controller, who cleared VH-TJA for take-off. The flight crew of VH-TJA, on detecting the obstructing aircraft, did not then adopt the most effective means of avoiding a collision.