Brake misjudgment triggers Perth hangar collision, What ATSB report says you need to know

Published on February 24, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

A recent investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has revealed that a brake misjudgment was at the heart of a hangar collision incident at Perth Airport.

The final ATSB report on the accident, detailed on the official government website, highlights that the pilot of a Fairchild Metro 23 mistakenly believed that the aircraft’s faulty brakes were fully operational during taxi operations after landing.

On 12 August 2024, the Skippers Aviation charter flight, operating as VH-WAJ, departed from Forrestania with two flight crew members and four passengers aboard.

During the descent into Perth, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of hydraulic system pressure, a failure traced back to a cracked hydraulic line that resulted in a fluid leak.

With hydraulic pressure lost, the crew was forced into a holding pattern while determining the proper speed and distance adjustments needed for a safe flapless landing on runway 24.

ATSB director of transport safety, Dr Stuart Godley, explained that during the holding phase, the captain had to instruct the first officer on manually extending the landing gear using a hand pump.

Given the first officer’s limited experience—having logged only 325 hours of total flight time, including approximately 34 hours on the Fairchild Metro 23—the captain ultimately resumed control of the aircraft.

Following the uneventful landing, the crew intended to have a tow vehicle retrieve the aircraft from the runway to the apron, as communicated to air traffic control.

However, after touchdown, the captain observed some residual brake pressure and, unable to establish direct contact with the tow tug, made the critical decision to taxi the aircraft to the apron.

According to the report, this decision was made under self-imposed time pressure, despite the compromised braking capability.

As the aircraft moved toward a hangar, a slight downhill gradient increased its speed, further challenging the limited braking power. In an effort to avoid a collision, the captain momentarily engaged reverse thrust before shutting down the engines and feathering the propellers.

Unfortunately, the aircraft’s right wingtip, along with the propeller, collided with a hangar at a low speed.

The impact brought the aircraft to a stop on the taxiway, and all occupants disembarked safely without injury.

Dr Godley emphasized that the incident underscored the critical importance of accurately assessing aircraft system functionality following in-flight failures.

The investigation noted that reliance on misleading indicators such as the apparent brake pressure after a hydraulic failure can have dangerous consequences.

“Vigilance when assessing aircraft performance and an objective assessment of system status are vital to minimize opportunities for error,” he said.

The ATSB report, available on the government website, further criticizes the deviation from standard operating procedures that contributed to the mishap.

It highlights that the captain, managing both flying and monitoring roles in an emergency situation, was significantly hindered by the limited operational input from the first officer.

This incident serves as a stark reminder to the aviation community of the necessity for procedural compliance and thorough system checks during abnormal situations.

For additional details on aviation safety protocols and the full investigation report, interested parties are encouraged to visit the official ATSB website.

Image Credit: Perth Airport