Crew fatigue played a major part in a terrain proximity caution incident involving a Qantas Boeing 737-800 outside Canberra, says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The aircraft was on a night flight from Perth to Canberra on 24 July 2004. Normal air traffic control assistance was unavailable and the aircraft went beyond the limits of the Church Creek holding pattern, 20km (11nm) south of Canberra, resulting in an enhanced ground proximity warning system caution terrain message. The crew responded to the warning and completed the flight to Canberra. The ATSB says the crew misinterpreted the instrument approach chart and entered incorrect data into the flight management computer. It says the crew were affected by fatigue exacerbated by an air conditioning problem. Qantas has now amended its procedures to require a higher altitude for aircraft holding to the south of Canberra, and Jeppesen is amending its charts.
Source: Flight International
