Silent Scream
Using your ears is a much less stressful way to maintain separation than relying on your eyes alone. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/062/silent-scream/
Jun 24, 2025•5 min
Flight Safety Australia - Close calls
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is a government body that regulates Australian aviation safety. We license pilots, register aircraft and oversee safety.
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Episodes
Positive Climb
Audio adds a new dimension to this anonymous first officer's close call, first published in 2021. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/05/positive-climb/
Dec 20, 2024•7 min
A brutal hazing
Flight Safety Australia reader Nic Barnes discovers conditions are different in northern Australia. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/03/a-brutal-hazing/
Dec 20, 2024•6 min
Flight planning fail
Nothing emphasises the importance of flight planning like that knotted feeling in your gut when you have failed to do it.
Nov 05, 2024•6 min
Double Blind
The source of anxiety was in, or rather on, the pilot's face. But impatience was an even more effective blindfold. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/02/double-blind/
Nov 05, 2024•6 min
Earth, wind and water
The elements humble a newly qualified pilot. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/03/earth-wind-and-water/
Nov 01, 2024•7 min
Tropical chill
This is a story of ice. Not ice you put in a drink. Not ice that forms on an aircraft, but ice that can frighten and kill a pilot. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/10/tropical-chill/
Sep 30, 2024•6 min
Head on a swivel
Unpleasant close encounters as a low-hours commercial licence fledgling taught this now experienced airline transport pilot some lasting lessons. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/07/head-on-a-swivel/
Jul 29, 2024•5 min
Bogged down in assumptions
A quick glance suggested everything would be okay – this was an expectations-driven illusion. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/07/bogged-down-in-assumptions/
Jul 04, 2024•6 min
Ignore The Sirens
In Greek mythology, the sirens' seductive voices lured mariners to their deaths. In modern aviation, the siren is pilot fixation, as Luke Bayly was lucky enough to discover early in his training.
May 10, 2024•7 min
One wrong turn
A recreational pilot's first flight after learning the basics of navigation unravels into an embarrassment that could have been a disaster.
Apr 09, 2024•7 min
Planning for remote possibilities
The tiniest change of heading took this pilot out of his comfort zone. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/02/planning-for-remote-possibilities/
Feb 23, 2024•5 min
I didn't plan on that
Sticking to a rigid schedule when circumstances have changed is the opposite of safe flight planning. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/12/i-didnt-plan-on-that/
Jan 14, 2024•4 min
It never strikes twice
This newly minted instructor was jolted out of his complacency by an unexpected thunderstorm. Read the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/01/they-say-it-never-strikes-twice/
Oct 31, 2023•6 min
Ice bucket challenge
A first officer becomes a mere spectator to poor cockpit decision-making and feels the cold hand of fear. Read the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/10/the-ice-bucket-challenge/
Sep 29, 2023•8 min
Dog legs & goat tracks
He was heading straight for disaster with 2 passengers on board, when something clicked in. Hear how one pilot learnt his limitations and strengths. Read the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/09/dog-legs-and-goat-tracks/.
Sep 20, 2023•7 min
A tumble of numbers
Subtle psychological pressures and an unintentional signal almost killed this experienced flier in the first hours of their career. Read the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/08/a-tumble-of-numbers/
Aug 03, 2023•6 min
Alice, through the looking glass
A private pilot reflects on an early flight and how they would do things differently now. https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/06/alice-through-the-looking-glass/
Jul 10, 2023•9 min
Decision or design
A gliding incident is the culmination of factors, including ergonomics, maintenance and pilot action. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/06/decision-or-design/
Jul 03, 2023•6 min
Maiden flight
A paraglider pilot’s skills and drills are tested to the limit on her very first time in the air. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2021/07/maiden-flight/
Jun 29, 2023•5 min
What did I think I was doing?
Weather affects short flights and long ones equally, as this pilot found out. I hadn’t ever been so glad to feel the earth beneath my wheels as I did when my aircraft touched the runway after this flight. Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/02/what-did-i-think-i-was-doing/
May 26, 2023•5 min
Stuck on top
Despite all good intentions, a pilot ends up in a nightmare situation. Self-analysis follows a lucky escape. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/05/stuck-on-top/
May 24, 2023•9 min
Night fright
Having purchased a Piper Warrior, endorsements for manual propeller pitch control and retractable undercarriage were straightforward. The next issue that seemed worthwhile addressing was the deadline imposed on VFR pilots by last light. So I embarked on a night VFR endorsement. The darkness of regional Australia at night proves to be more than a match for a city slicker’s night VFR rating.
Apr 04, 2023•6 min
Too close for comfort
Some years ago, I was involved in an incident that nearly resulted in a mid-air collision. It happened in the vicinity of the Archerfield Southern Training Area during a training session that I was conducting in a Cessna 172... Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/03/too-close-for-comfort
Mar 01, 2023•4 min
Assumed risk
A former boss once warned me that 'an assumption is the basis of a screw-up'. While I've often repeated that maxim to others, it took 5 white-knuckle minutes to teach myself the wisdom of those words. Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/01/assumed-risk/
Jan 22, 2023•6 min
Belting along
In this unexpected and scary incident, the pilot reaches for something familiar to use in an unusual way. Read this Close Call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/11/belting-along/
Dec 05, 2022•7 min
Water water everywhere
Recent la Niña rainfall has amplified a longstanding aviation hazard, as Steve Blackie discovered. Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/11/water-water-everywhere/
Oct 31, 2022•5 min
When EFATO calls
Recreational pilot Luke Bayly discovers the reasons for the seemingly endless drills of his initial training. Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/09/when-efato-calls/
Oct 04, 2022•6 min
No getting over it
An encounter with lenticular cloud literally shook this pilot out of complacency Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/08/no-getting-over-it/
Sep 05, 2022•7 min
Trim set mindset
Pressure drove this pilot towards an error, discipline allowed for a recovery. Read the full story at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/08/trim-set-mindset/
Aug 11, 2022•6 min
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