ATSB finds pilot pressure, maintenance issues factors in plane's Derby Highway crashBy Vanessa MillsABC KimberleyTopic:Air Incidents2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:13amTwo people survived a plane's heavy landing on a highway south of Derby in June 2023. (ABC News: Andy Seabourne)In short:The Australian Safety Transport Bureau has released a report into a 2023 plane crash on WA's Derby Highway that left a pilot seriously injured.The bureau identified problems at the plane's charter company, including maintenance issues and pressure on pilots to fly unsafe aircraft.What next?The ATSB says Broome Aviation has addressed these issues and modified their processes.abc.net.au/news/atsb-report-on-broome-aviation-planes-derby-highway-crash/105229726Link copiedShareShare articleAustralia's air safety watchdog has found fuel mismanagement by a pilot and a series of maintenance oversights contributed to a light plane's crash landing on a highway in far-north Western Australia.The Cessna 310, operated by charter company Broome Aviation, was en route to Derby, 2,200 kilometres north of Perth, from Warmun, 600km east of the town, when it landed heavily on Derby Highway, 5km from the town's airport.Startled motorists pulled over to avoid the plane and provided first aid to the seriously injured pilot and an unscathed passenger. The pilot was later airlifted to hospital in Perth.The pilot broke every bone in their face after hitting the dashboard of the plane and the report noted they were not wearing an upper-torso restraint.Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief commissioner Angus Mitchell described it as a "complex investigation." "We did find some shortcomings in the training and the consolidation of pilots, but more worrying we found organisational pressures to not report maintenance," Mr Mitchell said."There were a number of things stacked against the pilot on this day."ATSB found the fuel gauges were inaccurate and defects were not rectified. (ABC News: Andy Seabourne)'Oppressive culture' The bureau upgraded the scope of its investigation after its initial probe found other pilots at Broome Aviation raised concerns about maintenance, safety and an "oppressive culture.""There was a number of maintenance issues that we found, and that went to one of our findings around the operator themselves not reporting aircraft defects on maintenance releases," Mr Mitchell said."And also the pressure that pilots had to keep flying the aircraft that they at times considered unsafe."The charter plane was close to Derby Airport. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)The ATSB found the plane's fuel gauges were not indicating accurately and that fuel amounts in different tanks were not calculated correctly leading to "discrepancies".The report found Broome Aviation's operations manual did not include a procedure for recording in-flight fuel calculations, leading pilots to adopt varying methods for fuel monitoring."All the underlying things that should be in place to keep operations like this safe — they weren't in place," Mr Mitchell said.He said the operator had addressed the issues raised by ATSB and modified their processes as a result.Broome Aviation has been contacted for comment.ABC Kimberley — local news in your inboxGet our local newsletter, delivered free each TuesdayYour information is being handled in accordance with the ABC Privacy Collection Statement.Email addressSubscribePosted 2h ago2 hours agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 4:13amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesFormer PM, expert panel weigh in on Australia's place in the worldLIVEPhoto shows a submarine ship in the ocean Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayLIVEPhoto shows RBA buildingHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationPhoto shows Cash money in a purse with a calculator, tea towel, list of bills on a notepad and a penThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Peter DuttonKooyong corflute kerfuffle headed for court as Liberals cry foul at councilTopic:Federal GovernmentPhoto shows Monique Ryan Amelia Hamer pre-poll signsRelated storiesAuthorities investigating light plane crash in WA's far northTopic:Air Transport IndustryPhoto shows A plane crashed on the side of a road, with a police car in attendanceThird pilot narrowly avoided being hit during deadly WA helicopter crash, report findsTopic:Air IncidentsPhoto shows A street sign and a dirt roadRelated topicsAir IncidentsAir Transport IndustryDerbyOccupational Health and SafetyTop StoriesFormer PM, expert panel weigh in on Australia's place in the worldTopic:Australian Federal ElectionsPhoto shows a submarine ship in the ocean Inflation 'clears way' for RBA interest rate cut in MayTopic:Stock MarketHeadline inflation stable at 2.4pc while RBA's preferred measure drops within targetTopic:InflationThere's a reason Dutton can't resort to a scare campaign with older AustraliansAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbKooyong corflute kerfuffle headed for court as Liberals cry foul at councilTopic:Federal GovernmentJust InMurder accused told police he was 'tired of pretending' to be his alleged victimTopic:Courts4m ago4 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 6:13amThe 'brain rot' and 'ego stroke' of political advertisingTopic:Australian Federal Elections18m ago18 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:59amVirtual fencing to be legalised in NSW despite animal welfare concernsTopic:Livestock Farming43m ago43 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:34amHere's what the Greens will prioritise in a minority Labor governmentTopic:Australian Federal Elections44m ago44 minutes agoWed 30 Apr 2025 at 5:33amMore Just InBack to top