Loss of separation involving a Cessna 152, VH-IBL and Piper PA-28-181, VH-NBE, Moorabbin, Victoria, on 7 January 1994

Runways 31 (left and right) were in use at Moorabbin. VH-IBL landed on runway 31L and vacated the runway via runway 22. VH-NBE was then given a clearance to take-off. Just after the aircraft became airborne, the student pilot abandoned the take-off. VH-IBL had inadvertently re-entered runway 31L and the student pilot of VH-NBE believed that his aircraft would not clear the other aircraft. The instructor assumed control of the aircraft and manoeuvred it around VH-IBL.

The pilot of VH-IBL had only recently been issued his private pilot licence. Although he was an experienced glider pilot, he was not very experienced at Moorabbin. He said that after vacating the runway he had had to taxi around a stationary aircraft and believed he had become disoriented and re-entered runway 31L.

The instructor in VH-NBE had watched both VH-IBL and the aircraft ahead of it land and taxi. He stated that VH-IBL had not taxied around the preceeding aircraft. He said the preceeding aircraft was well ahead of VH-IBL and was not a factor in the occurrence. He also believed that it was unnecessary for his student to abandon the take-off as their aircraft would have been well clear of VH-IBL.