What happened
Following the landing of a Boeing 727, the crew was instructed to execute two right turns and follow another aircraft that had landed ahead of them. The pilot executed only one right turn and proceeded to taxi down an empty runway. This specific taxi route intersected with an active runway where a McDonnell Douglas DC-10 was in the process of taking off.
The DC-10 was accelerating at approximately 110 knots when the presence of the Boeing 727 on the active runway became apparent. The crew of the DC-10 was forced to abort the takeoff immediately to avoid a collision. The incident highlights a critical breakdown in ground navigation and runway incursion protocols.
The investigation
The primary finding centers on the deviation from the cleared taxi route by the Boeing 727. Instead of completing the directed two right turns, the pilot initiated a straight path along an empty runway that crossed the active departure lane. This action directly interfered with the takeoff roll of the DC-10.
Findings
The incident was caused by failure to follow taxi instructions. The Boeing 727 crew did not complete the required turns and entered an active runway without clearance. This error necessitated the emergency abort of the DC-10's takeoff, creating a high-risk situation for both aircraft involved.