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Proximity event involving Bell 212, VH-KHO, and PZL M18B, VH-VWF, 58 km west of Mount Hotham Airport, Victoria, on 18 January 2026
Latrobe Valley Aerodrome, Victoria, Albury Airport, New South Wales, 212, 31181, Helicopter, VH-KHO, Part 138 Aerial work operations, Nil, Bell Helicopter Co, Kestrel Aviation Pty Ltd
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M18B, 1Z027 26, Piston, VH-VWF, Part 138 Aerial work operations, Nil, PZL Mielec, Alpine Airwork
AO-2026-006
Wedderburn formation flight midair accident preliminary report
An ATSB preliminary report details the sequence of events leading up to the midair collision of two Van’s light aircraft returning to land at Wedderburn airfield, south-west of Sydney, as…
Bankstown VFR into IMC incident demonstrates importance of early assessment of weather conditions
Insufficient pre-flight consideration of weather conditions around Bankstown Airport, and self-imposed pressure to proceed, contributed to a visual rules pilot entering cloud shortly after…
Near collision involving an ICP Savannah, Piper PA-25 Pawnee and an Alexander Schleicher ASW 28, 3.2 km from Benalla Airport, Victoria, on 3 December 2025
AB-2025-066
Level crossing collision between freight train 6PM9 and a road vehicle in Cressy, Victoria, on 20 January 2026
6PM9, Freight, Minor, Collision, Melbourne, Victoria, SCT Logistics, Freight
RO-2026-001
Media Statement: Heck Field light aircraft accident
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has commenced a transport safety investigation into the accident involving a Van’s RV-8A two-seat light aircraft near Heck Field, on the Gold Coast, Queensland, this morning. As reported to the ATSB, the aircraft was being used for a private flight when it collided with terrain shortly after take-off from Heck Field. The aircraft was destroyed in a post-impact fire, and the pilot and passenger on board were fatally injured. The ATSB has deployed a team of transport safety investigators from its Brisbane and Canberra offices, specialising in…
Cessna 210 fuel starvation during night training flight over Darwin
A Cessna 210 briefly lost engine power after its fuel selector was mistakenly left on the right tank for multiple take-off and landings during night circuit training at Darwin Airport, an…
Dual input alert during A321 go-around following long flare and lateral deviation
A go-around after a lateral deviation and long flare to land at Sydney Airport resulted in the crew of an Airbus A321 making an inadvertent dual control input and conducting some procedures…
Abnormal engine indications and ditching involving Bell 206L-3, VH-LMW, 6.5 km west of Horn Island Airport, Queensland, on 6 January 2026
Sadies Beach Helipad Helicopter Landing Site, Queensland, Horn Island Airport, Queensland, 206L-3, 51120, Helicopter, VH-LMW, Part 133 Air transport operations - rotorcraft, Unknown, Bell Helicopter Co, Fortescue Helicopters Pty Ltd
AO-2026-003
Whitsundays helicopter water forced landing
The ATSB has been notified of the forced landing on water of a Robinson R44 helicopter near Daydream Island on Sunday morning.  As reported to the ATSB the pilot issued a MAYDAY call after experiencing an engine failure, deployed the helicopter’s emergency pop-out floats, and landed on the water near Daydream Island. The pilot, the sole occupant of the helicopter, was recovered by a nearby vessel and was reportedly uninjured. The ATSB is gathering further information as to the circumstances of the forced landing to inform an investigation decision.