Pilot Debrief

AIRBUS A320 near Boston, MA — 2009-06-18

Final reportOPS09IA008
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Date
2009-06-18
Location
Boston, MA, USA
Aircraft
AIRBUS A320
Registration
N662AW
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The vehicle operator's failure to follow the designated haul route to the construction site and his failure to adhere to airport driving procedures, which led to missed visual cues and lack of required communication prior to crossing the active runway. Contributing to the incident was the vehicle operator's distraction.

NTSB narrative

The airplane rotated approximately 500 feet from the intersection of runway 15R and taxiway M as the vehicle cleared the runway edge southbound on taxiway M. Taxiway M was under construction to connect the northern and southern portions for a full-length parallel taxiway. The operator of the construction vehicle was just coming on shift at the construction site at taxiway M. The Airport Authority had designated the south haul route as active at the time of the incident. The operator of the construction vehicle departed the construction trailer and drove to the construction site via the north haul route. He recalled turning on the construction vehicle’s rotating lights and the radio. He made no radio contact with the tower air traffic controllers during the drive, and despite not seeing any stop signs in place indicating a closed runway or looking both ways at the intersection, crossed the active runway without clearance. The operator of the vehicle stated in his interview he was “on autopilot during the drive to the construction site” and “was preoccupied” with thoughts of what needed to be done at the construction site.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Construction vehicle operator did not verify active haul route before crossing runway.

NTSB coding

  • Runway incursion veh/AC/person · Takeoff
  • Attention / Monitoring

Evidence available

  • 5 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents5

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