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/

Maiden flight

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/

Taking the low road

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/

Trim set mindset

An encounter with lenticular cloud literally shook this pilot out of complacency

Read this Close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2022/08/no-getting-over-it/

No getting over it

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/

When EFATO calls

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/

Water water everywhere

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/

Belting along

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/

Assumed risk

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/

Stuck on top

A private pilot reflects on an early flight and how they would do things differently now.
https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/06/alice-through-the-looking-glass/

Alice, through the looking glass

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

A tumble of numbers

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 the close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2023/09/dog-legs-and-goat-tracks/.

Dog legs & goat tracks

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

Ice bucket challenge

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/

It never strikes twice

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/

Planning for remote possibilities

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.

Ignore The Sirens

A recreational pilot's first flight after learning the basics of navigation unravels into an embarrassment that could have been a disaster.

One wrong turn

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/

Head on a swivel

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/

Bogged down in assumptions

The elements humble a newly qualified pilot.

Read this close call at: https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2024/03/earth-wind-and-water/

Earth, wind and water

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/

Tropical chill

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/

Double Blind

Nothing emphasises the importance of flight planning like that knotted
feeling in your gut when you have failed to do it.

Flight planning fail

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/

A brutal hazing

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/

Positive Climb

Listen to a pilot's first-hand account of a close call where unbalanced freight nearly brought down a ATR 72-212 cargo flight.   
(Image: © ATR | Barthe Pierre)
Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2015/05/freight-forward/

Freight forward

An insidious and subtle failure almost bring'sa young commercial pilot's carreer to a premature end.

Read this close call at https://www.flightsafetyaustralia.com/2025/08/reality- under-pressure

Reality Under Pressure

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/

Silent Scream

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/

Audio Close Call-Blundering through the authority gap-240725

How ‘marginal but do-able,’  turned into a sobering lesson for an eager pilot who was unaware of being subtly overconfident.

Clouded thinking

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority is a government body that regulates Australian aviation safety. We license pilots, register aircraft and oversee safety.

Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Popular tracks