Sequence & Resolution
Event Date02/25/2025
Level
Serious Incident
CategoryObstacle Strike
Flight PhaseTakeoff
Technical Issue Details
•de Havilland Dash 8-300 (VH-TQM) was operating flight QF2077 from Mildura (MQL) to Melbourne (MEL) carrying 50 passengers and 4 crew members.
•In dark, pre-dawn conditions, the flight crew mistakenly aligned the aircraft with the right runway edge lights of runway 09 instead of the centerline.
•During the takeoff roll, the aircraft struck and damaged 5 runway edge lights. The captain noticed the error, corrected the path back to the centerline, and continued takeoff.
Outcome / Handling
•The flight proceeded to Melbourne Airport (MEL).
•The crew performed a low approach to runway 16 to allow air traffic control to visually inspect the landing gear.
•The aircraft landed safely on runway 16 approximately 20 minutes after the low pass, showing minor damage to the nose gear, fuselage, and right propeller.
Current Status
•The safety investigation report concluded that distraction from cockpit checks during the turn and reduced visual cues in dark conditions caused the misalignment.
•The report noted that conducting the low pass was not a supported procedure, and a non-prescribed medication was found in the captain's post-incident test, though impairment was unlikely.
•The operator updated cockpit checklists during taxiing and enhanced runway alignment safety training following the event.
Sourcewww.atsb.gov.au
Flight Information
Flight NumberQF2077
Flight Duration80 minutes
Departure Runway09 (MQL)
Landing Runway16 (MEL)