Near collision involving a Cessna 172, VH-EOT and a Jabiru J120, 24-5340, at Latrobe Valley Airport, Victoria, on 6 September 2015

What happened

On 6 September 2015, the pilot of a Jabiru 120 aircraft, registered 245340 (J5340), conducted a flight from Wangaratta to Latrobe Valley Airport, Victoria. Another Jabiru aircraft (J1) had departed Wangaratta about 2 minutes before J5340, and also travelled to Latrobe Valley. At about 1540 Eastern Standard Time (EST), the pilot of J5340 broadcast on the common traffic advisory frequency (CTAF) when 10 NM to the north of the aerodrome, stating the current position of the aircraft and advising that J5340 was on descent and inbound to Latrobe Valley. The pilot of J1 had broadcast about 2 minutes earlier inbound to the airfield at 10 NM, and reported hearing the broadcast from the pilot of J5340.

Following the broadcast by the pilot of J5340, the pilot of a Cessna 172 aircraft, registered VHEOT (EOT), broadcast on the CTAF, that EOT was 10 NM from the aerodrome and inbound from the west. The pilot of EOT reported that he heard the broadcast from the pilot of J5340, who estimated his arrival time at the circuit at 1544. The pilot of EOT broadcast an estimated arrival time of 1543. The pilot of EOT reported that he then called the pilot of J5340 asking where he was, to which the pilot replied ‘north’. The pilot of EOT did not see a Jabiru aircraft at that time.

The pilot of J5340 reported that he broadcast again, when 5 NM from the airfield, advising his intention to join the circuit on a long downwind for runway 03. Then, when approaching abeam the northern threshold of the runway and on the downwind leg of the circuit, the pilot of J5340 broadcast joining downwind at circuit height for runway 03.

The pilot of J1 reported also having broadcast at 5 NM and when joining downwind, and was on late downwind when J5340 joined the circuit.

The pilot of EOT reported hearing a Jabiru aircraft broadcast joining final for runway 21, and then amending that to turn right to join on downwind for runway 03. However, both Jabiru pilots reported that at no stage did they broadcast or intend to join on final or to use runway 21.

About 15 to 20 seconds after the pilot of J5340 broadcast joining downwind, the pilot of EOT broadcast joining on a midfield crosswind leg for runway 03 (Figure 1). The pilot of J1, then on late downwind, sighted EOT and reportedly called the pilot of EOT, asking whether he had J1 in sight, and received the response ‘yes’. The pilot of J5340 then sighted EOT approaching from his left at the same height, about 300 m away, and reportedly also called asking whether the pilot of EOT had J5340 in sight. He reported that the pilot of EOT again responded ‘yes’, but the pilot of EOT later reported that he had not seen either Jabiru at that time.

The pilot of J5340 assessed that a collision with EOT was imminent, and immediately applied full power, conducted a steep climb and sharp right turn. As he levelled the aircraft off, after climbing about 200-300 ft, EOT passed directly underneath and then turned left onto downwind. The pilot of J5340 then broadcast a call to the pilot of EOT advising that he was above him and to his right and asked whether he had J5340 in sight. The pilot of EOT then sighted the Jabiru (J5340) above him to his right, and responded ‘yes’.

The pilot of EOT asked what the Jabiru (J5430) pilot’s intentions were. The pilot of J5340 responded that he would follow EOT, and extended the downwind leg to ensure adequate separation existed between the two aircraft. J1 had landed by that time, and both EOT and J5340 subsequently landed safely.

Pilot experience and comments

Pilot of VH-EOT

The pilot of EOT had recently passed his private pilot licence exam but had not yet received the associated paperwork. The pilot was conducting a navigation exercise towards the commercial pilot licence and had about 110 hours experience.

The pilot of EOT did not see J5340 until it had passed overhead. He did not see the other Jabiru (J1), or hear any broadcasts from the pilot of J1, at any time either in the air or after landing.

Pilot of Jabiru 24-5340

The pilot of Jabiru 24-5340 held a Recreational Aviation Australia licence and had approximately 700 hours experience as pilot in command.

The pilot of J5340 prefaced each broadcast with ‘Jabiru 53-40’ and the pilot of J1 also prefaced each broadcast with Jabiru and the aircraft registration number. The pilot of J1 reported that he read out each digit of the registration to make a clearer distinction between the two Jabiru aircraft.

Figure 1: Latrobe Valley Airport showing approximate aircraft tracks

Source: Google earth – annotated by the ATSB

ATSB comment

The CTAF at Latrobe Valley was not recorded, and the ATSB was unable to verify any of the reported transmissions. The pilots of both Jabiru aircraft reported hearing each other’s broadcasts as stated. The ATSB obtained radar data, however none of the aircraft operating in the area at the time were visible. The operator of EOT provided recorded flight data of the aircraft track.

Safety message

Pilots operating under the visual flight rules are required to maintain vigilance so as to see and avoid other aircraft. Civil Aviation Advisory Publication (CAAP) 166-2(1), stated:

Lookout is the principal method for implementing see-and-avoid. Effective lookout means seeing what is ‘out there’ and assessing the information that is received before making an appropriate decision.

Broadcasting on the CTAF is known as radio-alerted see-and-avoid, and assists by supporting a pilot’s visual lookout for traffic. An alerted search is more likely to be successful as knowing where to look greatly increases the chances of sighting traffic.

Following a broadcast, it is important for other pilots in the vicinity to ensure they have the aircraft sighted. Issues associated with unalerted see-and-avoid have been detailed in the ATSB research report Limitations of the See-and-Avoid Principle.

As detailed in the booklet A pilot’s guide to staying safe in the vicinity of non-towered aerodromes, ATSB research found that, between 2003 and 2008, there were 709 airspace-related events at, or in the vicinity of non-towered aerodromes. This included 60 serious incidents and six accidents (mid-air and ground collisions). Most of the 60 serious incidents were near mid-air collisions.

The ATSB investigated a mid-air collision at Latrobe Valley Airport on 1 December 2007, AO-2007-065, in which a Cessna 172 collided with an Avid aircraft on final approach to runway 09.

Aviation Short Investigations Bulletin - Issue 45