Near collision involving an Embraer EMB-110P1, VH-FCE and de Havilland Canada DHC-8-103, VH-NID, near Port Macquarie 20S, New South Wales, on 18 December 1992

Factual Information

All times are UTC.

VH-FCE [E110] departed Coffs Harbour for Williamtown at 0223 hours and climbed to cruise at 10,000ft.

VH-NID [DHC8] departed Port Macquarie for Sydney at 0244 hours and was on climb to FL180.

The tracks of the two aircraft crossed approximately 15 nm south-west of Port Macquarie and as the crew of FCE were performing a standard lookout scan they noticed NID climb through their level while crossing from left to right. It was estimated that the aircraft passed approximately 1000m from each other.

The crew of NID did not see FCE as they were passed that aircraft before the conversation between FCE and Sydney FS alerted them to the situation.

The weather conditions were approximately three to four octa of cloud with visibility in excess of ten kilometres.

The Sydney FSO failed to identify the confliction even though all the pertinent information was available and both aircraft made all the correct frequency transmissions. No traffic information was passed to either aircraft prior to the occurrence.

The FSO stated that certain personal problems were causing some preoccupation.