Qantas B738 at Mildura on Jun 18th 2013, landed below weather minima

Last Update: May 31, 2016 / 13:17:21 GMT/Zulu time

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Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 18, 2013

Classification
Incident

Airline
Qantas

Flight number
QF-735

Departure
Sydney, Australia

Destination
Adelaide, Australia

Aircraft Registration
VH-VYK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

A Qantas Boeing 737-800, registration VH-VYK performing flight QF-735 from Sydney,NS to Adelaide,SA (Australia) with 146 passengers and 6 crew, had been dispatched with a weather forecast, that indicated clear weather in Adelaide with no necessity to plan for an alternate aerodrome, the crew departed with sufficient fuel to arrive at Adelaide with 2800 kg of fuel remaining giving them about 45 minutes of flying time on top of the required final reserve. The aircraft departed Sydney with the captain being pilot flying and the first officer being pilot monitoring.

Following initial descent the crew contacted Adelaide approach and was informed that a third Boeing 737 had gone around in Adelaide due to fog. The crew therefore entered a hold about 50nm from Adelaide to assess the weather situation. Based on the weather reports of various aerodromes suitable for diversion, all but one reporting fog, the crew decided to divert to Mildura. The crew assessed that they would arrive at Mildura with 2900 kg of fuel remining.

While on approach to Mildura the crew heard other aircraft diverting and heard Virgin Australia's VH-YIR, see Incident: Virgin Australia B738 at Mildura on Jun 18th 2013, landed below weather minima and substantially below final reserve,abandon their visual approach and concluded weather conditions at Mildura were rapidly deteriorating. The crew configured the aircraft early for approach and decided to descend 200 feet below MDA if needed.

While on final approach about 100 feet above MDA breaks started to appear in the cloud and fog, however, visual contact with the runway could not be obtained. As planned the crew continued the descent below MDA, about 100-150 feet below MDA they obtained visual reference with the runway and continued for a safe landing.

On Jul 18th 2013 the ATSB released their preliminary report reporting the aircraft landed with 2100kg of fuel remaining, more than the required final fuel reserve.

On Dec 19th 2013 the ATSB released an interim report to introduce a two safety actions taken by the ATSB: a safety forum with respect to provision of operational information is planned and analysis of reliability of weather forecasts is being conducted.

The ATSB rated both events of VH-VYK and VH-YIR as serious incidents, the investigation continues.

On May 31st 2016 the ATSB released their final report for both VH-VYK (this coverage) and VH-YIR, see Incident: Virgin Australia B738 at Mildura on Jun 18th 2013, landed below weather minima and substantially below final fuel reserve, see the summary of the final report also with the coverage of the Virgin Australia occurrence.

Weather data at briefing:
Adelaide TAF
TAF YPAD 171703Z 1718/1824
VRB05KT 9999 FEW030 SCT045
FM181000 VRB05KT CAVOK
RMK T 06 06 11 14 Q 1018 1018 1020 1020

Adelaide METAR
METAR YPAD 172000Z 06004KT 9999 FEW022 05/04 Q1019
RMK RF00.0/000.0
TTF: NOSIG

Mildura TAF
TAF AMD YMIA 171758Z 1718/1812
24005KT 9999 SCT030 BKN060
BECMG 1718/1720 21006KT 9999 SCT006 SCT030
BECMG 1800/1802 18010KT 9999 SCT030 SCT050
BECMG 1807/1809 16008KT 9999 SCT040
TEMPO 1719/1724 BKN006
RMK T 06 05 07 13 Q 1016 1018 1020 1019

Mildura METAR
METAR YMIA 172000Z 26003KT 9999 FEW042 06/05 Q1017 RMK RF00.0/000.2

Weather data enroute:
Adelaide SPECI
SPECI YPAD 172130Z 06004KT 9999 MIFG FEW022 05/04 Q1020
RMK RF00.0/000.0
TTF: NOSIG

Mildura METAR
METAR YMIA 172130Z 27004KT 9999 FEW040 05/05 Q1018
RMK RF00.0/000.2

Weather data during diversion:
SPECI YMIA 172318Z 22004KT 9999 BKN002 SCT041 08/06 Q1019 RMK RF00.0/000.0

Weather data just before and at landing:
SPECI YMIA 172348Z 19007KT 0900 FG OVC001 07/07 Q1019 RMK RF00.0/000.0

TAF AMD YMIA 172352Z 1800/1812
20007KT 3000 BR SCT003 BKN040
BECMG 1800/1801 19006KT 9999 SCT030 SCT050
PROB30 1800/1802 0500 FG BKN002
RMK T 07 11 13 10 Q 1019 1019 1019 1020
Aircraft Registration Data
Registration mark
VH-VYK
Country of Registration
Australia
Date of Registration
Ajh ghlmnf jlf b Subscribe to unlock
Airworthyness Category
A dqd hhAhlfhlmkfm Subscribe to unlock
TCDS Ident. No.
Bbnqe Subscribe to unlock
Manufacturer
THE BOEING COMPANY
Aircraft Model / Type
737-838
ICAO Aircraft Type
B738
Year of Manufacture
Gqh Subscribe to unlock
Serial Number
Fklpb Subscribe to unlock
Maximum Take off Mass (MTOM) [kg]
Hjnld Subscribe to unlock
Engine Count
D Subscribe to unlock
Engine
Bihmjmqhqbqgm Aiggphghj gAiqlbpdkAnkpqfecedc Subscribe to unlock
Main Owner
ebpgdpnnihAmiemeicmblmnnAjgdhqkjfjdkklcbppfbgAqf endkiAbfflhpdjkffbpkbgjk ni Subscribe to unlock
Main Operator
Ff Abpppjlehkccebgjd kcjjcigbcjlqAfdln gfcdkjedfcdggqgffifleeqfhm Aickneqgfenl Subscribe to unlock
Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jun 18, 2013

Classification
Incident

Airline
Qantas

Flight number
QF-735

Departure
Sydney, Australia

Destination
Adelaide, Australia

Aircraft Registration
VH-VYK

Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800

ICAO Type Designator
B738

This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
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