Miscellaneous - Other involving Boeing B707-351C, 5N-ASY, Williamtown, New South Wales, on 15 September 1990

Circumstances:

The aircraft was engaged on a livestock charter flight, having departed Honolulu with an endurance of about 90 minutes in excess of the planned flight time. Sydney also had an operational requirement for 30 minutes traffic holding for arriving aircraft. At 0030 hours UTC the aircraft reported at UNSUS with an endurance of 2 hours, although the fuel margin for arrival at Sydney was now reduced to a total of 20 minutes. No concern was raised by the flight crew. The Operational Flight Controller at the Sydney Operations Centre, who was also responsible for monitoring the progress of the flight, did not recognise the situation and alert the Senior Operations Controller (SOC). At 0128 hours the aircraft called Sydney Control and reported being low on fuel and requested an approach for landing on runway 16. At 0130 the aircraft, reported 45 minutes fuel remaining. The estimated arrival time Sydney was now 0212 hours. The SOC immediately took control of the situation and offered a diversion to Williamtown which would save about 70 track miles. This was accepted by the crew. Radar vectors were provided direct to Williamtown, which was reporting weather conditions as, wind 140 degrees/20-30, cloud 5/8 2000, visibility plus 10 kilometres reducing in rain showers. On final approach for runway 12 the aircraft was approved to carry out a left orbit to lose excessive height after which it was cleared to land. After landing the aircraft was unable to taxy off the runway due to total fuel exhaustion. The crew subsequently reported that both outboard engines had stopped on short finals, and the inboard engines stopped during the landing roll. At no stage of the flight did the crew declare an emergency. The aircraft had earlier passed near Nandi, Tontouta and Brisbane where suitable refuelling facilities were available.

Significant Factors:

The following factors were considered relevant to the development of the incident:

1. The pilot-in-command did not adequately plan the flight.

2. The pilot-in-command did not carry out a diversion during the flight when it should have been obvious the aircraft would be critically short of fuel on arrival at Sydney.

3. The Operations Flight Controller did not adequately monitor the progress of the flight. This incident was not the subject of an on-scene investigation.