Pilot in remote WA mayday ignored low fuel warnings before forced highway landing: investigation

An investigation into the forced landing of a passenger flight on a remote highway has found the pilot ignored warnings before both engines lost power.

A passenger flight operated by a well-known charter airline had to land on a highway because the pilot ignored low fuel warnings, insisting on continuing on despite being within range of airports.

According to a final report following an investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Cessna 441 Conquest was on its way from Fitzroy Crossing to Broome in Western Australia’s north in March 2018 when the low fuel indicators lit up.

Both fuel quantity gauges indicated sufficient fuel remained to make it to the tourist hotspot, so the Skippers Aviation pilot continued flying towards Broome.

But the right engine began surging, followed by the left engine, then the right engine lost power, prompting the pilot to declare a mayday.

The Cessna 441 Conquest had nine passengers on-board

However, the pilot also advised air traffic controllers that the aircraft would be able to reach Broome because the left engine was still operating.

When that engine also lost power, the pilot was forced to land the aircraft on a nearby highway, 39km short of its destination.

Fortunately, the pilot and all nine passengers on-board walked away unscathed and the aircraft was undamaged.

The ATSB found the plane’s fuel tanks had been contaminated by water “for some time without being detected by multiple pilots’ fuel quality testing”, causing fuel quantity gauges to over-read significantly.

The plane landed 3km short of its intended destination. Picture: James Morgan.

The safety watchdog also uncovered other failings and limitations in cross-checking and recording data.

The ATSB said the low fuel indicators had likely been illuminated for about 30 minutes before the fuel was exhausted in each tank and when the aircraft was still within range of suitable alternative airports.

“However, the pilot disregarded the annunciations and relied on the (erroneous) fuel quantity indications and continued to Broome until the engines lost power, at which point a forced landing on a highway was the only remaining option,” it said.

Skippers Aviation has made several improvements as a result of the incident, which the ATBS deemed serious.