Airbus A330 accident near Learmonth Aerodome, Au, October 7, 2008
On October 7, 2008 at about 12:42 pm local time, a Airbus A330, registered VHQPA, suffered minor damage in an accident near Learmonth Aerodome. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 22 people were seriously injured; 293 others were unhurt.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2008 · about 12:42 pm local time
- Place
- Learmonth Aerodome, Australia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 22 people were seriously injured; 293 others were unhurt.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Airbus A330 301 · all A330s on the register
- Registration
- VHQPA · no longer on the register · serial 0553
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 7, 2008, at 12:42 local time, a Qantas Airways Airbus A330-300, registration VH-QPA, experienced an abrupt pitch down maneuver during cruise near the Learmonth Aerodrome. The flight crew diverted to Learmonth, Australia. The flight was a scheduled passenger flight from Singapore to Perth, Australia. There were 2 crew and 20 passengers who were seriously injured during the pitch event. This accident investigation is being led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Bureau d'Enquêtes et d'Analyses pour la Sécurité de l'Aviation civile (BEA) of France have provided accredited representatives to assist the ATSB with their investigation. All inquiries concerning this investigation should be directed to: Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) P.O. Box 967, Civic Square Canberra A.C.T. 2608 Australia Website: http://www.atsb.gov.au
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
The aircraft
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: Learmonth
- Flight plan: not recorded
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cabi | 2 | 10 | ||
| Passengers | 20 | 283 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.