Close calls

Unchallenged assumptions about controlled airspace procedures put this pilot in a potentially very dangerous situation. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2026/05/mix-up-in-the-salad-bowl/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A newly minted pilot faces their first in-flight emergency, with the added complication of it happening in tightly controlled airspace. Spoiler: it ended well. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2026/04/perfectly-gauged-response/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've all had them: those flights that challenge the plan from the moment the wheels leave the ground. That's when distraction and frustration open the door for error. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/12/dont-stop-now/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fundamentals of flight planning do not change, as this classic close call from 2008 demonstrates. A first flight in a new type was a fuel management challenge a young pilot nearly failed. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2026/01/tanks-for-nothing/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The textbook reactions of a low-hours pilot facing a deteriorating situation show how ab initio training works – if you listen and take its messages seriously.  Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/11/fast-thinking-fledging/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Almost too late, a young pilot learns the importance of assertiveness as part of flight control. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/10/blundering-through-the-authority-gap/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An insidious and subtle failure almost bring's a young commercial pilot's career to a premature end. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/08/reality-under-pressure/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Using your ears is a much less stressful way to maintain separation than relying on your eyes alone.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/062/silent-scream/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Audio adds a new dimension to this anonymous  first officer's close call, first published in 2021. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/05/positive-climb/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flight Safety Australia reader Nic Barnes discovers conditions are different in northern Australia. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/03/a-brutal-hazing/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The source of anxiety was in, or rather on, the pilot's face. But impatience was an even more effective blindfold. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/02/double-blind/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nothing emphasises the importance of flight planning like that knotted feeling in your gut when you have failed to do it. This pilot got that feeling when a cascade of minor circumstances overwhelmed a superficial plan. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/01/flight-planning-fail/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The elements humble a newly qualified pilot.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/03/earth wind and water/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is a story of ice. Not ice you put in a drink. Not ice that forms on an aircraft, but ice that can frighten and kill a pilot.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/10/tropical-chill/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unpleasant close encounters as a low-hours commercial licence fledgling taught this now experienced airline transport pilot some lasting lessons.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/07/head-on-a-swivel/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A quick glance suggested everything would be okay – this was an expectations-driven illusion.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/07/bogged-down-in-assumptions/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Greek mythology, the sirens' seductive voices lured mariners to their deaths. In modern aviation, the siren is pilot fixation, as Luke Bayly was lucky enough to discover early in his training. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/06/ignore-the-sirens/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A recreational pilot's first flight after learning the basics of navigation unravels into an embarrassment that could have been a disaster. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/04/one-wrong-turn/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tiniest change of heading took this pilot out of his comfort zone.Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/02/planning-for-remote-possibilities/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sticking to a rigid schedule when circumstances have changed is the opposite of safe flight planning.Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/12/i-didnt-plan-on-that/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This newly minted instructor was jolted out of his complacency by an unexpected thunderstorm. Read the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/01/they-say-it-never-strikes-twice/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A first officer becomes a mere spectator to poor cockpit decision-making and feels the cold hand of fear. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/10/the-ice-bucket-challenge/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was heading straight for disaster with 2 passengers on board, when something clicked in. Hear how one pilot learnt his limitations and strengths. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/09/dog-legs-and-goat-tracks/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Subtle psychological pressures and an unintentional signal almost killed this experienced flier in the first hours of their career. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/08/a-tumble-of-numbers/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A private pilot reflects on an early flight and how they would do things differently now.Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/06/alice-through-the-looking-glass/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A gliding incident is the culmination of factors, including ergonomics, maintenance and pilot action. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/06/decision-or-design/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A paraglider pilot’s skills and drills are tested to the limit on her very first time in the air. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2021/07/maiden-flight/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weather affects short flights and long ones equally, as this pilot found out.  I hadn’t ever been so glad to feel the earth beneath my wheels as I did when my aircraft touched the runway after this flight.Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/02/what-did-i-think-i-was-doing/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite all good intentions, a pilot ends up in a nightmare situation. Self-analysis follows a lucky escape.Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/05/stuck-on-top/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having purchased a Piper Warrior, endorsements for manual propeller pitch control and retractable undercarriage were straightforward. The next issue that seemed worthwhile addressing was the deadline imposed on VFR pilots by last light. So I embarked on a night VFR endorsement. The darkness of regional Australia at night proves to be more than a match for a city slicker’s night VFR rating. Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/04/night-fright/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Some years ago, I was involved in an incident that nearly resulted in a mid-air collision. It happened in the vicinity of the Archerfield Southern Training Area during a training session that I was conducting in a Cessna 172...Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/03/too-close-for-comfortSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A former boss once warned me that 'an assumption is the basis of a screw-up'. While I've often repeated that maxim to others, it took 5 white-knuckle minutes to teach myself the wisdom of those words.Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/01/assumed-risk/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this unexpected and scary incident, the pilot reaches for something familiar to use in an unusual way.Read this Close Call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/11/belting-along/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent la Niña rainfall has amplified a longstanding aviation hazard, as Steve Blackie discovered.Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/11/water-water-everywhere/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recreational pilot Luke Bayly discovers the reasons for the seemingly endless drills of his initial training.Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/09/when-efato-calls/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An encounter with lenticular cloud literally shook this pilot out of complacencyRead this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/08/no-getting-over-it/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pressure drove this pilot towards an error, discipline allowed for a recovery.Read the full story at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/08/trim-set-mindset/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A newly minted rating, a blandly confident low-hours pilot, time pressure and a desire to impress. What could possibly go wrong?Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/06/fear-for-lunch/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pilot flying at an incorrect level in a busy lane making garbled radio calls creates a wake of confusion and danger. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/05/taking-the-low-road/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pilot listens to their nagging doubt, and makes a horrifying discovery. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2021/12/twisting-the-blade/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising terrain, worsening visibility and the smell of smoke in the cockpit. ’I couldn’t believe I’d found myself in this situation.’ Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2021/07/its-a-health-hazard/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How ‘marginal but do-able,’ turned into a sobering lesson for an eager pilot who was unaware of being subtly overconfident. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/11/clouded-thinking/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A mustering pilot experiences the longest five minutes of his life: ‘I was under no illusions. I knew the engine was going to seize.’ Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/10/down-and-dirty/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pilot Michael Ralph’s graphic retelling of an all-too-common VFR occurrence. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2019/07/his-story-almost-history/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A pilot has to make quick decisions after the airspeed indicator fails. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2020/04/nothing-on-the-clock/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A series of small decisions, none harmful in isolation created a terrifying situation by the end of the day. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/10/avoid-assumptions-without-confirmation/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How heat and stress incubated a horrifying human error. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/07/valuable-lesson-learned/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An aviation professional shudders to recall but draws lessons from an accident in his callow youth. Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/05/past-the-point-of-no-return/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Skydivers are often asked why they'd want to jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane, but what if it wasn't perfect? Read more at www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2018/02/fully-loaded-and-going-fast/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I’ve held a VFR private pilot’s licence since 1988 and have around 1100 hours in command. Recently, I was involved in an incident, which could’ve ended in tragedy. Read more at http://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2017/07/the-hills-are-alive/.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.