F100, Paraburdoo Australia, 2021

F100, Paraburdoo Australia, 2021

Summary

On 22 November 2021, a Fokker F100 crew discovered as they neared their destination, Paraburdo, that the forecast weather was so inaccurate that instead of the anticipated benign conditions, a much lower cloud base prevailed. A delay in recognising the implications of initially unsuccessful approaches and difficulty in obtaining updated weather for diversion options resulted in a fourth approach being intentionally continued significantly below minima, albeit successfully. Relevant aircraft operator procedures were identified as inadequate.

Description

On 22 November 2021, a Fokker F100 (VH-NHV) operated by Network Aviation on a passenger service from Perth to the uncontrolled airport at Paraburdoo on behalf of Qantas Airlines as QF1616 departed with normal fuel reserves and an estimated landing weight close to the maximum permitted on the basis of a destination forecast which did not indicate any deterioration in cloud below 1000 feet. By the time the flight reached its destination, a significant deterioration in cloud base had occurred, After three unsuccessful LNAV approaches, a landing was only achieved by continuing a fourth approach significantly below the applicable MDA.

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