Incident Overview

Date: Friday 19 April 1996
Aircraft Type: Swearingen SA226-TC Metro II
Owner/operator: Jetcraft Aviation
Registration Number: VH-UUK
Location: Bankstown Airport, NSW (BWU) – ÿ Australia
Phase of Flight: Taxi
Status: Substantial, repaired
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Component Affected: Aircraft Wing (MU-2’s right wing tip) and Engine (Metro II’s right engine).Aircraft Wing (MU-2’s right wing tip) and Engine (Metro II’s right engine).
Investigating Agency: BASIBASI
Category: Accident
A cargo flight incident occurred between two aircraft, the Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 (VH-WMW) and the Metro II (VH-UUK), from Bankstown to Wagga Wagga, Australia. The MU-2 taxi-ied along taxiway X, then across the 29 engine runup area towards taxiway S1, and the Metro II followed a similar path. A critical error occurred when the MU-2 pilot, unaware of the Metro II’s presence on taxiway K, executed a left turn, resulting in a collision. The Metro II’s wing struck the MU-2’s right wing tip, causing significant damage. Both pilots immediately initiated emergency shut-downs and escaped the aircraft without injury. Witnesses reported a clear morning with minimal obstructions, and the aircraft were converging at an angle of approximately 50 degrees prior to impact.A cargo flight incident occurred between two aircraft, the Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 (VH-WMW) and the Metro II (VH-UUK), from Bankstown to Wagga Wagga, Australia. The MU-2 taxi-ied along taxiway X, then across the 29 engine runup area towards taxiway S1, and the Metro II followed a similar path. A critical error occurred when the MU-2 pilot, unaware of the Metro II’s presence on taxiway K, executed a left turn, resulting in a collision. The Metro II’s wing struck the MU-2’s right wing tip, causing significant damage. Both pilots immediately initiated emergency shut-downs and escaped the aircraft without injury. Witnesses reported a clear morning with minimal obstructions, and the aircraft were converging at an angle of approximately 50 degrees prior to impact.

Description

A Mitsubishi MU-2B-30 (VH-WMW) was to be flown on a cargo flight from Bankstown to Wagga Wagga, Australia. At the same time another aircraft, Metro II VH-UUK was also to be flown on a cargo flight from Bankstown to Cootamundra, Australia. The MU-2 taxied at 06:30 for runway 29C, followed some three minutes later by the Metro II. The MU-2 proceeded along taxiway X, then across the 29 engine runup area towards taxiway S1, which also required crossing taxiway K. The Metro II proceeded along taxiway K, towards taxiway S1. As he taxied through the runup area the MU-2 pilot was unaware of the presence of the Metro II on taxiway K. The Metro II pilot had seen the MU-2 to his left, taxiing through the runup area, and assumed that the pilot of that aircraft would give way to him. He reported that his attention was mainly directed ahead and to his right, as he monitored departing aircraft. As the MU-2 was turning left out of the runup area to cross taxiway K, the pilot felt a lurch to the left as his aircraft was struck from the rear right. The wing of the Metro II had passed under the right wing tip fuel tank and then into the propeller of the right engine, resulting in substantial damage to both aircraft. The pilot of the Metro II had been unaware of the close proximity of the MU-2 until the impact pulled the nose of his aircraft to the left, and he saw the other aircraft. Both pilots conducted emergency shut-downs and escaped from their aircraft without injury. Pilots of adjacent aircraft witnessed the accident and reported that it was a clear morning with no obstructions to visibility. Immediately prior to impact, the witnesses observed the aircraft to be converging at an angle of approximately 50 degrees and thought it was going to be close. When the impact was seen as inevitable, they were unable to give a warning call as the ground radio frequency was congested.

Primary Cause

Pilot error ? a lack of awareness of another aircraft on a critical taxiway, leading to a sudden and unexpected maneuver.Pilot error ? a lack of awareness of another aircraft on a critical taxiway, leading to a sudden and unexpected maneuver.

Share on:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *