What happened
During a training flight at Cairns, the crew of a DHC-8 taxied to the incorrect runway holding point. While the aircraft was intended to line up at intersection B5, the flight crew instead positioned the aircraft at intersection B4. The error was only identified after the air traffic controller observed the aircraft at the wrong location following takeoff clearance and alerted the crew. Had the flight had proceeded with a rejected takeoff from this position, calculations indicated a potential runway overrun could have occurred.
The investigation
The investigation examined the crew's actions and environmental factors during the taxi phase. It was noted that a DHC-8 was taxiing directly ahead of the aircraft, and the crew may have been distracted by following this lead aircraft toward B4. During the turn onto taxiway B4, the captain was focused on communicating with the cabin crew and monitoring the cabin video to ensure the cabin was secure for departure. This focus on cabin readiness coincided with the period when the aircraft was approaching the incorrect taxiway.
Furthermore, the pilot flying was a trainee who had only visited Cairns once before and was relatively unfamiliar with the layout of runway 33, which was not the standard runway in use due to prevailing winds. The investigation also found that flight control checks were being completed later in the taxi than usual, and the captain was monitoring the aircraft's speed to ensure it stopped before the holding line, which may have diverted attention away from the B4 taxiway signage.
Findings
- The crew's attention was divided between taxi navigation and verifying cabin readiness via video and interphone.
- The pilot flying's lack of familiarity with the specific runway configuration at Cairns reduced the ability to detect the error.
- The presence of another aircraft taxiing immediately ahead may have contributed to the crew following the incorrect path.
- The pre-take-off checklist used by the crew confirmed the runway number but did not explicitly require verbal confirmation of the specific intersection.