What happened
During a night flight from Essendon to Bankstown, the pilot of VH-XMM, a [aircraft type not specified], taxied onto runway 26. While the aircraft's position data indicated it was aligned with the runway edge lighting during the initial line-up, CCTV footage revealed that as the aircraft proceeded along the northern side of the runway, the edge lights extinguished. Upon returning to the apron, the crew identified damage to the aircraft that was consistent with a strike against the runway lighting infrastructure.
The investigation
The ATSB examined CCTV footage and aircraft position data, which confirmed that other aircraft operations were occurring on runway 26 at the time of the departure. The investigation also included an interview with the pilot, who noted that while entering the runway, they were focused on checking the approach for traffic, completing flight departure documentation, and performing a physical line-up checklist. This sequence of tasks shifted the pilot's attention from the external environment to the cockpit. Furthermore, the pilot noted that runway 26 was not a frequently used runway for their operations.
While the pilot suggested that fatigue might have played a role, an analysis of the pilot's recent sleep patterns and work roster indicated that it was unlikely the pilot was experiencing fatigue levels capable of impairing performance.
Findings
- The pilot experienced a high workload during the runway line-up phase.
- The pilot's attention was diverted from external monitoring to cockpit tasks.
- Unfamiliarity with the specific runway and the challenges of night operations contributed to the misalignment.
- The aircraft's path resulted in the striking of the northern edge lights, causing minor damage.