Skytrans DH8A at Toowoomba on Mar 28th 2014, runway incursion

A Skytrans de Havilland Dash 8-100, registration VH-QQD performing flight Q6-11 from Toowoomba,QL to Brisbane,QL (Australia) with 11 passengers and 3 crew, was taxiing for departure and broadcast they were taxiing to runway 29 for departure to Brisbane on both the aerodrome's CTAF and Brisbane center frequencies, the aircraft was about to enter the runway at taxiway A2, about 500 meters/1640 feet from threshold runway 29, to backtrack the runway towards the threshold runway 29.

A private Cessna 172 carrying the pilot and a passenger was on short final to runway 29 announcing their impending arrival on runway 29 on the aerodrome's CTAF when about 10nm out and again at 5nm out and 3nm out. When on short final the pilot broadcast on CTAF that they were on short final. Just when the Cessna flared for landing the Dash crossed the hold short line and continued to taxi onto the runway.

The Cessna touched down about 5 meters/15 feet past the runway threshold and braked hard, the captain of the Dash 8 spotted the Cessna and stood on the brakes as well. The Cessna rolled out safely, the pilot subsequently announced he would backtrack the runway and vacate via taxiway A3, about 170 meters/560 feet from the threshold runway 29, which was acknowledged by the Dash confirming both aircraft were on CTAF.

The Australian Transportation Safety Board released their final report releasing following safety message:

The ATSB SafetyWatch highlights the broad safety concerns that come out of our investigation findings and from the occurrence data reported to us by industry. One of the safety concerns is safety around non-controlled aerodromes www.atsb.gov.au/safetywatch/safety-around-aeros.aspx.

Research conducted by the ATSB found that, between 2003 and 2008, 32 runway incursions were recorded at non-towered aerodromes. Broadcasting on and monitoring of the CTAF is the key way for pilots to establish situational and traffic awareness. The ATSB Limitations of the see-and-avoid principle study found that the effectiveness of a search for other traffic is eight times greater when a radio is used effectively in combination with a visual lookout, than when no radio is used.

The ATSB reported that the crew of the Dash had not heard any of the radio transmissions from the Cessna. The Cessna pilot on the other hand had heard the taxi calls from the Dash.

The Dash crew reported that the the right hand engine had stalled during engine start, the crew assessed however that the flight could be conducted after a subsequent successful engine start. The crew knew however, that they needed to arrive at their alloted slot time in Brisbane.

Upon nearing the hold short line the captain looked left confirming there was no other traffic, the first officer looked right and reported all clear, the aircraft continued past the hold short line. The Cessna pilot radioed the Dash crew whether they had not heard his radio calls, the captain spotted the Cessna on the runway and braked, then looked onto the TCAS display and found it on stand by, no advisory had been generated.

Toowoomba is an uncontrolled airfield featuring a runway 11/29 length 1341 meters/4400 feet.

Map (Graphics: AVH/Google Earth):