The pilot only responded after the plane had overflown its intended destination by more than 110km. He was instructed to head to Gold Coast airport where he safely landed.
The Cessna 208B Caravan had originally departed Cairns and was heading to Redcliffe as part of a ferry flight.
The ATSB said air traffic control asked the pilot of a Royal Flying Doctor Service Beechcraft B200 King Air to try and intercept the Cessna to wake up the pilot.
The plane’s flight path tracked on Google Earth. Photograph: Google Earth
The King Air pilot at first attempted to get close and contact the unresponsive pilot, but couldn’t get through.
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An experienced pilot in Australia nodded off at the controls and ended up flying 110 km southeast of his intended destination, an inquiry has found.
The aircraft was flying at 11,000 ft., about 53 km from Sunshine Coast Airport when air traffic control lost contact with the pilot for at least 40 minutes. They diverted nearby aircraft to intercept the Cessna and alert the pilot but failed to receive a response, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
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