Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, a United Airlines Boeing 737 (Flight 973) and an Air Wisconsin Fokker F27 (Flight 954) experienced a close call at an airport. The incident involved the aircraft coming into proximity during takeoff and landing operations on intersecting runways.
Sequence of Events
The airport's south runways (32L, 9R, and 4R) were controlled by the South Local Controller (SLC), while the north runways (9L and 4L) were handled by the North Local Controller (NLC). At 1543:26, SLC instructed United Flight 973, a Boeing 737, to hold on Runway 32L and advised of an expected three-minute delay before takeoff.
Meanwhile, Air Wisconsin Flight 954, a Fokker F27, had begun a visual approach to Runway 9R. At 1545:23, after coordinating with NLC, SLC cleared the F27 to circle (side step) for a landing on Runway 9L and directed the crew to change frequency to NLC. The final approach path, extending the centerline of Runway 9L, crossed over Runway 32L.
At 1546:53, SLC cleared the 737 for takeoff on Runway 32L.
Evasive Action
Approaching V1 speed (133 knots), the 737 pilots observed the F27 converging and about to cross their intended takeoff path. The F27 crew did not see the 737. The 737 captain determined that neither crossing under the F27 nor aborting the takeoff would be safe. Instead, he chose to avoid the F27 by climbing over the other aircraft.
Procedural Change
Following this incident, the tower procedure was revised. The change specified that no takeoff clearance would be issued to a departing flight on Runway 32L until an arriving aircraft cleared to land on Runway 9L had reached the threshold of that runway.
No injuries or damage were reported.