Fear for lunch
A newly minted rating, a blandly confident low-hours pilot, time pressure and a desire to impress. What could possibly go wrong? Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/06/fear-for-lunch/
Jul 04, 2022•8 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
Taking the low road
A pilot flying at an incorrect level in a busy lane making garbled radio calls creates a wake of confusion and danger. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/05/taking-the-low-road/
May 04, 2022•8 min
Twisting the blade
A pilot listens to their nagging doubt, and makes a horrifying discovery. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2021/12/twisting-the-blade/
Dec 17, 2021•4 min
It’s a health hazard
Rising terrain, worsening visibility and the smell of smoke in the cockpit. ’I couldn’t believe I’d found myself in this situation.’
Dec 12, 2021•7 min
Clouded thinking
How ‘marginal but do-able,’ turned into a sobering lesson for an eager pilot who was unaware of being subtly overconfident.
Nov 27, 2020•8 min
Down and dirty
A mustering pilot experiences the longest five minutes of his life: ‘I was under no illusions. I knew the engine was going to seize.’
Oct 29, 2020•5 min
His story … almost history
Pilot Michael Ralph’s graphic retelling of an all-too-common VFR occurrence. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2019/07/his-story-almost-history/
Sep 11, 2020•15 min
Nothing on the clock
A pilot has to make quick decisions after the airspeed indicator fails. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/04/nothing-on-the-clock/
Apr 15, 2020•6 min
Avoid assumptions without confirmation
A series of small decisions, none harmful in isolation created a terrifying situation by the end of the day. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/10/avoid-assumptions-without-confirmation/
Oct 09, 2018•7 min
Valuable lesson learned
How heat and stress incubated a horrifying human error. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/07/valuable-lesson-learned/.
Jun 29, 2018•4 min
Past the point of no return
An aviation professional shudders to recall but draws lessons from an accident in his callow youth. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/05/past-the-point-of-no-return/
May 04, 2018•9 min
Fully loaded and going fast
Skydivers are often asked why they'd want to jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane, but what if it wasn't perfect? Read more at www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/02/fully-loaded-and-going-fast/
Feb 27, 2018•9 min
The hills are alive
I’ve held a VFR private pilot’s licence since 1988 and have around 1100 hours in command. Recently, I was involved in an incident, which could’ve ended in tragedy. Read more at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2017/07/the-hills-are-alive/
Jul 07, 2017•5 min
Easter road trip
It’s the Easter weekend. The weather’s perfect, skies are clear and my mate Kevin and I are in the cockpit of my beloved Kitfox 3 ‘rag and tube’ light plane. We’re at 5000 ft and heading east for Kalgoorlie, 590 km away. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2017/05/easter-road-trip/.
May 03, 2017•5 min
Down to the last drop
A hangar story that could easily have been a front-page newspaper story. Read via Flight Safety Australia at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2017/03/down-to-the-last-drop/
Mar 08, 2017•9 min
The devil in the detail
How a recreational pilot found himself loaded with fuel without a drop to spare. Read this close call at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2016/09/the-devil-in-the-detail/
Sep 06, 2016•7 min
Out in Africa
This newly instrument rated pilot was as happy as a warthog in elephant dung. I was flying old, but still shiny, twin pistons for a living; and Zimbabwe was now a relatively peaceful country with a new name and what looked like a bright future, now that the Bush War was over! Life was good. Read the full story at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2016/07/out-in-africa/
Jul 15, 2016•5 min
What you don't find can kill you
How secure is your cockpit and cabin? Is everything stowed safely, but still readily available if needed? Read this close call at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2016/05/what-you-dont-find-can-kill-you/
May 10, 2016•6 min
Undone over Gulgong
A hang glider tells how fatigue and human factors almost had disastrous outcomes. Read the full article at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2016/03/undone-over-gulgong/
Mar 02, 2016•7 min
The rule of three
This is a story about the time that I let commercial pressures get in the way of my personal margins, and learnt the value of boundaries the hard way. You can read this close call at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2016/01/the-rule-of-three/
Jan 12, 2016•6 min
Running from the storm
'Pressing on into an approaching storm-front, then going into low level ‘turn and run’ mode; this was as close to a terminal accident in a light aircraft as I ever want to get.' Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2015/07/running-from-the-storm/
Jul 08, 2015•6 min
Freight forward
Listen to a pilot's first-hand account of a close call where unbalanced freight nearly brought down a ATR 72-212 cargo flight. (Image: © ATR | Barthe Pierre) Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2015/05/freight-forward/
May 04, 2015•9 min
When the pedal hits the stop
Listen to this close call experienced by a military helicopter pilot while flying a Bell UH-1H for the RAAF near Townsville. For the first time, Flight Safety Australia brings it's popular 'close calls' in audio format, allowing you to listen and experience a near miss like never before. Read this close call and more by visiting: www.flightsafetyaustralia.com
Mar 10, 2015•8 min
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