Synopsis

On 11 June 2006, a Dornier 328 operated by City Star Airlines whilst positioning in marginal visibility for a day approach at Sumburgh, Shetland Isles UK, and having incorrectly responded to TAWS Class A warnings/alerts by not gaining safe altitude, came to close proximity with terrain . The approach was continued and a safe landing was made at the airport.

Causal and Contributory Factors

The crew were alerted to the situation by on-board equipment, but the commander did not respond to the ‘PULL UP’ warnings it generated. The investigation identified a number of organisational, training and human factors issues which contributed to the crew’s incorrect response to the situation. Two recommendations were made, concerning crew training and regulatory oversight of the aircraft operator.

The following causal and contributory factors are identified from in the official UK AAIB Report on the Serious Incident:

"In this serious incident mandatory equipment designed to prevent such an occurrence functioned correctly and may have averted an accident, though the crew’s reaction to the alert it generated was not in accordance with established procedures. The investigation identified a number of contributing factors: