A Piper PA-28 concerned in a close to miss with two F-35s at RAAF Base Tindal throughout final yr’s Outback Air Race had misplaced electrical energy, the ATSB has mentioned.
In its report into the incident on 28 August 2025, the security watchdog famous that the PA-28, VH-TKX, had neither a functioning radio nor transponder as a consequence of a damaged alternator, and was speaking with different pilots within the race through a bunch chat on the best way to Tindal.
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In response to the ATSB, a licensed plane upkeep engineer (LAME) at Daly Waters had suggested the pilot, who had observed a tripped circuit breaker, that the alternator was “unserviceable” and might be repaired at Tindal, the vacation spot for the next leg of the race.
“The LAME subsequently charged the plane’s battery and inspired the pilot to conduct the flight, with out assessing the time the battery may provide the plane with electrical energy,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell mentioned.
“Additional, regardless of the heightened potential for a lack of electrical energy, the pilot didn’t conduct contingency planning previous to taking off for Tindal.”
En path to Tindal, the plane misplaced electrical energy and the pilot was unable to speak utilizing the plane’s radio. As well as, the plane’s transponder ceased transmitting, and will not be detected by air visitors management.
The pilot and passenger additionally reported being unable to name air visitors management on a cell phone, as a consequence of noise ranges within the cockpit, nevertheless they have been in communication with members of an air race group chat utilizing a cell system.
The report particulars communications on the group chat, and the way different members made contact with Tindal air visitors management, which suggested it was unsafe for the PA-28 to land at Tindal because of the stage of visitors, and that the PA-28 ought to maintain outdoors managed airspace or land on the close by Homebush Park airfield.
Nonetheless, the PA-28 occupants responded within the group chat that they weren’t touchdown at Homebush Park and as a substitute have been monitoring direct to Tindal.
In a subsequent alternate on the group chat, a unique member of the chat requested if the PA-28 occupants wished them to declare a PAN, to which the PA-28 responded that they did. The PA‑28 pilot later suggested that as they thought-about {that a} PAN had been declared on their behalf, they thought that different visitors can be cleared from their deliberate flight path.
Nonetheless, not one of the Tindal air visitors controllers recalled a PAN being declared on behalf of the PA-28.
“The investigation discovered that the pilot didn’t divert to the closest airport or observe recommendation to stay outdoors managed airspace, and as a substitute the plane was climbed into managed airspace with out the required clearance, and continued to land at Tindal,” mentioned Mitchell.
Because the PA-28 was approaching Tindal, two RAAF F-35 jets have been returning to Tindal in formation, with their pilots unaware of the PA-28.
“When the second F-35 turned onto closing strategy, the PA-28 additionally joined closing in shut proximity, with separation between the two plane decreasing to 72 m laterally and 25 ft – about 7.6 metres – vertically,” mentioned Mitchell.
The PA-28 pilot then manoeuvred their plane to the correct to extend separation, whereas persevering with in direction of the runway. Each plane landed with out additional incident.
“This incident serves to focus on the significance of pilots conduct contingency planning previous to flight if there’s an elevated danger of an irregular occasion and, within the case of such an occasion, to observe revealed emergency procedures to make sure their actions align with air visitors management expectations,” Mr Mitchell mentioned.
The investigation report additionally stresses the significance of clear communication between upkeep personnel and pilots – and famous the LAME had not recorded the alternator difficulty or upkeep exercise on the plane’s upkeep launch.
“Recording of defects and subsequent upkeep actions on the upkeep launch is central to make sure all events share a typical understanding of recognized faults, the attainable or anticipated in-flight results, and their affect on the general airworthiness of the plane,” mentioned Mitchell.
