Mid-air near-miss — two training aircraft, Parafield CTR

Summary

Two Parafield Aero Club Cessna 152s came within an estimated 60 m of each other in the Parafield circuit, with one aircraft conducting a go-around at the same time the other was turning crosswind. ATC separation was not maintained due to a frequency change creating a radio gap. No collision occurred.

Investigation Findings (4)

1. 01The circuit conflict arose when one aircraft's radio frequency change coincided with an ATC sector handoff.
2. 02The go-around transmission was not received by the ATIS sector during the handoff.
3. 03Airservices Australia modified the sector handoff procedure at Parafield to maintain a 30-second overlap.
4. 04ATSB recommended a procedural change to require pilot readback of go-around clearances at non-towered aerodromes.