The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is undertaking on-site investigations into the three tragic aircraft accidents that occurred over the January holiday weekend claiming the lives of nine people.

• A Beech 23 Musketeer crashed shortly after take-off from Canberra Airport resulting in fatal injuries to all four occupants.
• A Pitts Special crashed while conducting aerobatic manoeuvres near Brisbane - the sole occupant was fatally injured.
• A Cessna 310 crashed north-east of Newman, Western Australia during a night flight - the four occupants were fatally injured.

ATSB Safety Investigators have attended all sites, and today will remove components of each aircraft for further analysis.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the recent omission by Ansett to undertake specified maintenance requirements for Boeing 767 aircraft. This situation can reasonably be regarded as having the potential to affect adversely the safety of aviation and is therefore a safety deficiency.

The safety deficiency investigation will include examination of:

• Boeing aircraft airworthiness
• Ansett's maintenance quality assurance system, and
• CASA's systems for compliance, including procedures delegating responsibilities to airlines for regulatory compliance.

This investigation is separate to the regulatory compliance investigation being undertaken by CASA.

Additional information added on 12 January 2001 in response to inquiries

Boeing aircraft airworthiness refers to the relationship between the manufacturer and the airline operator to ensure the maintenance of continuing airworthiness.

Failure to keep proper lookouts aboard the Liberian woodchip carrier Craig The Pioneer and the Australian prawn trawler May Bell II resulted in a collision between the two vessels east of Newcastle at 0157 on 9 October 1999, according to the report of the investigation into the accident released by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) today.

The collision occurred in fine weather conditions as the crew of the trawler was recovering its nets. The bow of the trawler was damaged, but its crew suffered no injuries and the vessel returned safely to Sydney. The trawler was well illuminated at the time, but watchkeepers on the ship had not sighted it visually or by radar and denied any knowledge of the incident.

An analysis of paint samples taken from both vessels, made with the assistance of the Australian Federal Police, led to the conclusion that the ship had collided with the fishing vessel.

In addition, the report concluded that neither vessel was keeping a proper lookout and that the vision of the crew of the trawler was significantly impaired by the bright lights in use at the time.

The report highlights the Inspector of Marine Accidents' concern that there have been fourteen other collisions involving fishing vessels and trading ships in Australian waters. It states that radar reflectors or similar devices fitted to fishing vessels would increase the likelihood of their being detected by ships' radars.

The ATSB and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority are conducting trials of active radar reflectors with the aim of encouraging their use in fishing vessels.

The ATSB report is available from this website Report 151.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating an occurrence in which a Singapore-bound Emirates Airlines Boeing 777 (flight number UAE69) stopped its take-off from runway 16 at Melbourne Tullamarine Airport when the left engine failed. Initially smoke and flames were visible but the crew reported that there was no fire.

The incident happened at 8:55 pm Eastern Summer Time on 30 January 2001. The aircraft was able to return to the terminal safely where the passengers disembarked normally. There were no reported injuries.

"Preliminary advice suggests that the engine failure may have resulted from a dislodged engine fan blade," Barry Sargeant, Deputy Director, Air Safety Investigation said.

"The investigation will initially entail inspecting the engine to determine the extent of the failure. The flight data recorders will also be analysed to gain a full appreciation of what actually happened. Once we have that information it will be then possible to determine which areas the investigation will need to focus upon. Until we get to that point it is not possible to predict the extent or length of the investigation. In the meantime the ATSB will be working closely with the airline and with the engine manufacturer," Mr Sargeant said.

After the occurrence the runway was closed for inspection and swept for engine debris, which delayed several aircraft for about 15 minutes.

On Wednesday 4 April 2007 at 10.30 am AEST, the ATSB will hold a media conference to release its final investigation report into the Lockhart River accident, in which both pilots and all 13 passengers perished in a regular public transport Metroliner 23 accident.

Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director, ATSB will present and discuss the findings of the final report and associated safety action.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified by Western Australian police that at 1645 Western Standard Time on 15November2000 a Gippsland Aeronautics (GA)-200 agricultural aircraft, VH-YPL engaged in aerial spraying was involved in an accident after striking power lines approximately 90NM north-east of Albany.

The pilot, the only occupant of the aircraft, received fatal injuries.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.

A media conference will be held this afternoon discussing the progress of the assistance being provided by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to the Indonesian National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) in relation to the download of data from the Garuda aircrafts flight data and cockpit voice recorders.

Where: 15 Mort Street, Canberra City (ATSB Headquarters)
Time: 16:30 local time (ACT)
Who: Mr Kym Bills, Executive Director ATSB

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified that a Piper Aerostar VH-NOU, had an engine failure whilst landing at Hay Aerodrome (NSW) this morning, 15 November 2000. The aircraft subsequently collided with an embankment.

Although the aircraft was substantially damaged, both crew members were able to evacuate the aircraft, despite suffering minor injuries.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.

The ATSB is conducting a full investigation into the grounding of the Malaysian flag containership 'Bunga Teratai Satu' on Sudbury Reef in the Great Barrier Reef on 2 November 2000.

In line with the essential function of the ATSB, it is a safety investigation conducted to ascertain all the factors which contributed to the incident.

The Navigation (Marine Casualty) Regulations require that, before the report is released, an 'Interested Party Review' occurs, in which all those whose affairs could be effected by the report are given an opportunity to comment on the draft of the report and to make submissions.

This process takes at least one month from the completion of the investigation and drafting of the report, and consequently the report is not released as a public document for some months after the occurrence. The report will be published on this website as soon as the document is publicly released.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been advised that a Cessna 404, VH-SKW, a scheduled passenger service from Cairns to Aurukun in Queensland was involved in a landing accident at Aurukun. It is understood the nose landing gear collapsed during the landing roll. None of the twelve occupants were injured.

In accordance with Section 19CB(2) of the Air Navigation Act 1920, the ATSB has commenced an investigation into this accident. Investigators will not be attending the accident site.