Pilot Debrief

Embraer EMB145 near Springfield, MO — 2018-06-27

Final reportOPS18IA014
Sign in to save
Date
2018-06-27
Location
Springfield, MO, USA
Airport
SGF
Aircraft
Embraer EMB145
Registration
N655AE
Category
Airplane
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The local controller failing to follow established facility directives and issuing a clearance for takeoff from a runway not under his control.

NTSB narrative

The runway incursion sequence began when the air traffic control (ATC) local controller (LC) cleared (ENY3660) for takeoff from an inactive runway that had been NOTAM’d closed for arrivals to accommodate airfield mowing in the underrun. Interviews with controllers after the incident revealed SGF runway 14 had been NOTAM’d closed by SGF Airport Operations for arrivals but was available for departures. There were mowers in the underrun of runway 14 in the runway safety area (RSA) that prohibited an overflight by landing air traffic. The NOTAM was published and available to aircrew and air traffic control via the FAA website and covered the period from 1230 UTC to 2100 UTC. Because runway 14/32 was closed to landing traffic, SGF standard operating procedures permitted the transfer of control for the runway to the ground controller (GC) position to use for runway crossings without the need for coordination with LC. Because GC now had operational control of the runway, the LC was required to request the use of the closed runway from the GC prior to issuing any clearances for takeoff. The pilot of ENY3660 requested to use runway 14 for a departure, and the GC approved the request and issued taxi instructions to runway 14. While the airplane was taxiing to runway 14, VAN7 requested to cross runway 14 while GC maintained operational control of the runway. Because GC had control of the runway, there was no requirement to coordinate the closed runway vehicle crossing with LC. When the pilot of ENY3660 called the LC ready for takeoff from runway 14, the LC issued a takeoff clearance without coordinating with GC.

NTSB coding

  • Air traffic event · Takeoff
  • Decision Making / Judgment

Related mishaps