Occurrence Brief 2002/1

Location:                               Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.
Date:                                       March 28, 2002.
Highest injury level:       Are you kidding? It's a simulator remember?

Aircraft Manufacturer:                Boeing                                  
Aircraft Model:                     737-438
Reg :                                       VH-TJG
Type of  operation:                Air transport, High capacity, Transcontinental, Passenger, Scheduled.
Airline:                                   Suppressed (Hint: Starts with a "Q".)
Damage to aircraft:   Enough to make you weep.
Departure point:                   Alice Springs
Departure time:                     14.15 hours (local time)
Destination:                          Cairns, Queensland.

Pilot in Command:                 Bill Smith.
Class of license:                   Certified neurotic
Hours on type:                     Far too many

Factual Information

History of the flight

Flight no. QF1948 was cleared to taxi to and hold short of runway 12. During the taxi, the crew observed an "Air Pacifica" MD80 on short final to runway 12. The MD80 was high on the approach, but eventually touched down at a considerable distance past the touch down zone. The crew of QF 1948 continued to monitor the ground frequency (118.30- the same as the tower frequency) as they taxied towards the threshold of runway 12. They heard repeated requests for the MD80 to 'exit the runway when able' and to 'turn off at next taxiway'. Upon arriving at the threshold, QF 1948 requested IFR takeoff clearance. They were advised to hold short, due to the MD80 on the runway. After a period of time, QF 1948 was cleared for takeoff, which was duly acknowledged. During the B737's takeoff roll, the MD80 executed a U turn at the very end of the runway and began to back-taxi down the runway towards the nearest runway exit. There was no instruction issued for the MD80 was to hold short. QF 1948 continued the takeoff roll and the MD80 continued to back taxi towards the departing B737. (Keep reading, this is where it starts to get interesting). Upon reaching an airspeed of 140kts, QF1948 commenced rotation and lifted off the ground, almost but not quite, clearing the tail fin of the MD80. The B737 began an un-commanded roll to the left and moments later disappeared onto a smoking crater of its own creation, immediately adjacent to runway 12.

 Pilot's statement: " No problem folks, that was just a practice."

The simulator re-set and QF 1948 departed 5 minutes later. Gentlemen, let that be a lesson to you.

Cheers,
Bill Smith
Perth Western Australia.