Mid-air collision between B-747 and MD-11 during runway crossing

Casualties unknown • Miami, FL, US

A Boeing 747 and an MD-11 collided on a taxiway after the B-747 crossed Runway 12 while its tail remained obstructing the runway.

What happened

The ground controller (GC) coordinated with the local controller (LC) and cleared a B-747 to cross Runway 12 via taxiway V. At the time, an MD-11 had landed on Runway 9R and was holding short of Runway 12 at the intersection of taxiways V and S, maintaining contact with the LC.

The B-7CO flightcrew notified the GC that the MD-11 was obstructing the opposite side of the runway. The GC did not acknowledge this report and reissued the clearance for the B-747 to cross the runway. As the B-747 proceeded, it stopped short of the MD-11, but the tail of the aircraft remained over the edge of Runway 12.

The LC then asked the MD-11 if it could execute a right turn onto taxiway S. The MD-11 flightcrew acknowledged this as a clearance and began the turn. Upon seeing the MD-11 begin to move, the captain of the B-747 transmitted on the ground control frequency instructing the pilot to stop; however, the MD-11 was operating on the local control frequency.

In an attempt to avoid the B-747, the MD-11 captain steered the aircraft to the far right side of the taxiway, causing the right main landing gear to strike two taxiway lights. During this maneuver, the left wingtip of the MD-11 struck the nose of the B-747. Simultaneously, the GC instructed the B-747 to pull forward because its tail was obstructing Runway 12 and other traffic was landing. As the B-747 moved forward, the left wingtip of the MD-11 collided with the left wing of the B-747. The incoming landing traffic included a heavy aircraft that had landed while the B-747 had not yet fully cleared the runway holding line.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1996-01-23 Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11 accident near Miami, FL?

A Boeing 747 and an MD-11 collided on a taxiway after the B-747 crossed Runway 12 while its tail remained obstructing the runway.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1996-01-23 involved a Mcdonnell Douglas MD-11, registration PPSPE, operated by Viacao Aerea Sao Paulo SA, at Miami, FL.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The local and ground controllers' failure to adequately coordinate the movement of the two airplanes, the tower cab supervisor's failure to provide adequate supervision to the controllers, the MD-11 flightcrew's misinterpretation of the local controller's question about whether they could make a right turn onto…

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001208X05170. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

Loading the flight search…