_IAI_1124A_Westwind_parked_at_Sydney_Airport.jpg) A Pel-Air Westwind II, sister aircraft to that involved in the accident | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 18 November 2009 |
| Summary | Ditching
• Pilot error (ATSB)/(CASA) • Pilot error, ATC error, operational issues within Pel-Air (TSB) |
| Site | Norfolk Island 29°04′30″S 167°57′00″E / 29.075°S 167.95°E |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | IAI 1124A Westwind II |
| Operator | Pel-Air |
| Call sign | VICTOR HOTEL NOVEMBER GOLF ALPHA |
| Registration | VH-NGA |
| Flight origin | Apia, Samoa |
| Stopover | Norfolk Island |
| Destination | Melbourne |
| Passengers | 4 |
| Crew | 2 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 6 |
| Survivors | 6 |
The 2009 Pel-Air Westwind ditching or Norfolk Island ditching was an aircraft accident on 18 November 2009 near Norfolk Island, Australia. A Westwind II jet operated by Pel-Air was conducting an air ambulance flight for CareFlight International when it was forced to ditch after being unable to land in bad weather and not having sufficient fuel to divert to an alternate destination.
The official accident report issued 2+1⁄2 years later by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) attracted wide criticism, and resulted in an Australian Senate Enquiry that found both the ATSB and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) had failed to carry out their responsibilities with respect to the accident investigation. In response to the criticism, the ATSB requested that the Transportation Safety Board of Canada review the ATSB's investigation methodologies and processes,[1] and subsequently reopened the investigation on 8 December 2014.[2] The final report of the reopened investigation was released on 23 November 2017, and contained 531 pages and 36 safety factors.[3]
- ^ "Independent review of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau's investigation methodologies and processes". Transportation Safety Board of Canada. 1 December 2014.
- ^ "ATSB begins action on Canadian review". Australian Transport Safety Bureau. 8 December 2014.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
atsb-reportwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).