Outback airline pilots have been warned against relying only on sight to land, after a plane tried to tough down on a coal stockpile.

REX airline pilots on the route to the Newcastle airport were warned by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, following a 2012 incident in which a crew mistook coal loaders and stockpiles on Koorangang Island for the airport runway.

The ATSB follow-up report on the incident said low light conditions were the main contributing factor for the pilots’ incorrect visual identification of the coal facility.

Air traffic control questioned the crew after the aircraft was seen tracking 15 kilometres south-west of the airport and descending.

The controllers told them they were a long way off target, and advised they climb back to a safe altitude.

Following the investigation, REX has told its crews to look out for the possibility of misidentification, and to always use navigation equipment to verify position.