What happened
During an approach to runway 06 at Caloundra Airport, a Pawnee pilot initiated a go-around maneuver to avoid a potential collision with a Cessna taxiing across the intersection. Simultaneously, a Jabiru aircraft commenced its takeoff roll on the intersecting runway 11.
As the aircraft moved through the intersection, the leading edge of the Pawnee's left wing struck the trailing edge of the Jabiru's right wing. The impact caused the Jabiru's aileron and a portion of its outer wing to separate, leading the aircraft to strike the terrain. The collision resulted in two fatalities for the pilot and passenger aboard the Jabiru. The Pawnee remained under control and landed safely following the encounter.
The investigation
Investigators examined the communication and visibility conditions at the time of the accident. It was determined that a stand of trees located between the intersecting runways obstructed the line of sight between the Jabiru and the Pawnee for a significant portion of the sequence.
Regarding radio communications, the Pawnee pilot had made at least four radio calls announcing their position in the circuit for runway 06. However, the Jabiru pilot likely did not hear or understand these calls. While the Jabiru's radio appeared functional, investigators could not confirm the volume settings or the status of the headset and antenna. Additionally, the Cessna pilot had turned the radio volume down during pre-flight checks and failed to restore it, which prevented them from hearing the Pawnee's landing calls. This lack of auditory awareness, combined with the visual obstructions, contributed to the lack of situational awareness among all involved parties.
Findings
- A stand of trees between the intersecting runways prevented the pilots of the Jabiru and the Pawnee from observing each other.
- The Jabiru pilot was likely unaware of the Pawnee's approach due to an inability to hear or transmit radio calls.
- The Cessna pilot taxied across runway 06 without stopping or looking for traffic because they had not heard the Pawnee's landing calls due to low radio volume.
- The Pawnee pilot elected to land on runway 06 despite most other traffic using runway 11, driven by wind conditions and an expectation of no conflicting traffic.
- The lack of hold point markings on the taxiway crossing runway 06 increased the risk of runway incursions.
Safety message
- The practice of using secondary runways at non-controlled aerodromes increases collision risks when visibility is obstructed by trees or buildings.
- Pilots should ensure radio volume is restored to appropriate levels after pre-flight checks to maintain situational awareness.
- Clearer guidance is needed for pilots using secondary runways at non-controlled aerodromes to define active runway usage and mitigate risks.