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The plane took off from Devonport, in northern Tasmania
A small plane has surpassed its destination in Australia by nearly 50 km after its pilot fell asleep in the cockpit, air safety officials said.
The pilot was the only person on the cargo flight between Devonport and King Island in Tasmania on 8 November.
The incident, classified as a "disability" case, is currently under investigation by the Australian Transportation Safety Board (ATSB).
Officials did not say how the pilot had woken up before landing safely.
The aircraft Piper PA-31, operated by Vortex Air, was scheduled to travel 240 km at 07.15 local time.
"During the cruise, the pilot fell asleep, resulting in the overflight of King Island by 46 km," said the ATSB in a brief statement.
Neil Hansford, aviation expert, said Australia has strict rules on pilot fatigue.
"There is no way in the world that anyone should have taken this flight tired," he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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On its website, Vortex Air indicates that it operates charter flights for "groups, companies and vacationers" in Australia.
The ATSB said it would interview the pilot and review the operational procedures before publishing a report next year.
Last year, five people died when a plane traveling to King Island crashed shortly after takeoff in Melbourne.
