What happened
On 25 June 2024, an ASL Airlines Australia BAe 146-300, registered VH-SAJ, was conducting a cargo flight from Sydney to Brisbane. During the descent into Brisbane, the crew encountered deteriorating weather conditions characterized by fog, which reduced visibility to approximately 912 m.
The crew was performing an ILS approach for runway 19L using autopilot. At approximately 110 ft, the pilot flying disconnected the autopilot. Following this, the aircraft's pitch attitude increased, and the airspeed began to decay. The pilot flying made several corrections, but the aircraft's descent rate increased. Upon touchdown, the aircraft struck the runway with a high pitch angle and a vertical acceleration of 2.4 g, causing damage to the tail strike indicator and surrounding airframe panels.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the loss of situational awareness and the crew's decision-making. The pilot flying was relatively new to the position, having completed line training only 28 days prior and possessing only 113 hours of experience on the BAe 146. Because the pilot's previous experience was primarily in single-engine aircraft under visual conditions, the arrival of fog created a challenging visual environment.
It was determined that the pilot's instrument scan broke down as they focused on the external environment to interpret the fog. This led to a failure to monitor airspeed and power settings. Additionally, the investigation examined the captain's role, noting that preoccupation with fuel levels and a desire to land before visibility worsened may have contributed to the outcome.
Findings
- The pilot flying became disoriented after disconnecting the autopilot, leading to a loss of situational awareness regarding pitch, airspeed, and power.
- The captain's focus on remaining fuel and the pressure to land before visibility further deteriorated created an environment of urgency.
- The captain's communication regarding the need to land on the first approach likely increased pressure on the pilot flying.
- ASL Airlines Australia's practice of promoting pilots before reaching prescribed minimum experience levels without additional risk controls was identified as a safety issue.
- The captain's limited experience in a multi-crew command role may have hindered their ability to effectively manage the situation or command a go-around.