The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is conducting an investigation into the reported mid-air collision between two Air Tractor aircraft that occurred during the morning of 26 February 2008, 8.5 km NE Wee Waa. A team of four Transport Safety Investigators arrived at the site late Tuesday and has commenced investigating the circumstances of the accident. The team has examined the burnt wreckage of one aircraft and interviewed witnesses. The team will finalise examination of that aircraft today and commence work on the other aircraft. Initial information indicates that the pilot of an…

The ATSB has released a safety bulletin to raise public awareness of the factors which have contributed to a spate of recent tragic rail level crossing accidents. Since April 2006 the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has investigated 12 significant level crossing accidents of which nine have involved heavy road vehicles. The terrible tragedy of the Kerang accident in Victoria in June last year is an example of such an accident where 11 people lost their lives and 20 were injured. The recent investigations conducted by the ATSB have found in almost every case that the motorist failed to stop…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is conducting an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the reported mid-air collision between a Robinson helicopter and a Piper Cub that occurred during the late afternoon on 13 February 2008, in the ranges north of Gascoyne Junction. A team of four (4) Transport Safety Investigators is expected to be in Carnarvon later today to commence the on-site phase of the investigation. Any person/witness with information about the accident is encouraged to contact the ATSB on 1800 020 616. Further advice will be provided if the ATSB decides to…

The ATSB has found that a collision between a GrainCorp freight train and overturned truck occurred because train control could not contact the approaching train in the ten minutes or so before the collision. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today released its final report into the investigation of a collision that occurred at the Olympic Highway level crossing at Illabo in New South Wales on 2 November 2006. At the time of the collision it was dark and raining. The semi-trailer overturned while negotiating the curve prior to the level crossing. The truck driver called '000' and the…

The ATSB has found that strong winds during a thunderstorm could have caused a train derailment in central South Australia. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today released its final report into the investigation of a freight train derailment near Tarcoola in South Australia on 1 November 2006. The FreightLink train, travelling from Darwin to Adelaide, derailed during a thunderstorm about five kilometres east of Tarcoola. Freight wagons in the middle of the train appeared to have 'tipped over' while the train was travelling at about 67km/h in a severe thunderstorm and there was no…

The ATSB has found that the speed boat Norma Jean was travelling too fast in the darkness to avoid a collision that claimed four lives. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final investigation report states that the Norma Jean's probable high speed was inappropriate in the dark conditions and the use of the boat's internal lighting may have restricted the ability of the boat's skipper to see the barge until immediately before the collision. At about 1500 on 12 March 2007, the unmanned barge Seatow 61 was anchored about three miles off Carnarvon, Western Australia, and the barge's anchor…

The ATSB has found that the grounding of Pasha Bulker on Nobbys Beach on 8 June 2007 occurred despite a gale warning that should have prompted the master to ballast the ship for heavy weather and take it to sea. A number of other ships also failed to take to sea. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation found that Pasha Bulker's master had an inadequate understanding of heavy weather ballast, anchor holding power and the limitations of Newcastle's weather exposed anchorage. The investigation also found that a number of other ships attempted to ride out the gale at anchor and the…

The ATSB is leading this safety investigation with the assistance of a number of other organisations and agencies, including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration of the USA, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Australia and Qantas and Boeing. Yesterday the aircraft was moved to a hangar. This will provide a safer and more optimal working environment for the investigation team. The remainder of the freight on the aircraft has been progressively examined and removed from around the area of the…

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau was advised this afternoon of a serious incident involving a Qantas aircraft. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 was operating a scheduled passenger service from Hong Kong to Melbourne Australia. At approximately 29,000 feet, the crew were forced to conduct an emergency descent after a section of the fuselage separated and resulted in a rapid decompression of the cabin. The crew descended the aircraft to 10,000 feet in accordance with established procedures and diverted the aircraft to Manila where a safe landing was carried out. The aircraft taxied to the…

The ATSB has found that a collision between the Indian Pacific passenger train and a tip truck occurred when the driver of the truck drove into the side of the train at the Moloney Road level crossing in SA. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has today released its final report into the collision which occurred on 13 December 2007. At the time of the accident road traffic at the crossing was controlled by 'Stop' signs and approach warning signs. The investigation established that the truck did not come to a halt at the 'Stop' sign and concluded that the truck driver's familiarity with the…