What happened
On June 17, 2007, at 13:20 EDT, two aircraft were involved in a near-collision at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in Teterboro, New Jersey. The first aircraft, an Avantair (VRN) Piaggio P180 operating as N6026K's counterpart, was cleared for takeoff on runway 24. At 17:19:02, the pilot of VRN152 notified the tower controller that the aircraft was ready for runway 24 and received takeoff clearance.
Shortly after, at 17:19:42, the pilot of a Cirrus SR-22, registration N6026K, notified the tower controller that they were ready to depart runway 19 at taxiway bravo. The controller cleared the Cirrus for takeoff with instructions for a left turn northeast bound and to maintain at or below 1,000 feet. At 17:20:28, the pilot of N6026K notified the tower that they had an open door and needed to stop briefly; however, the controller did not acknowledge this transmission.
During the subsequent 18 seconds, the pilot of VRN152 observed N6026K on a potential collision course. The pilot of the Piaggio applied maximum braking and retarded engine power while traveling at approximately 106 knots. In an attempt to avoid a broadside impact with the wings, the pilot applied right rudder to aim for the tail section of the Cirrus. The pilot reported passing just feet behind the Cirrus. Following the heavy braking, the Piaggio's brakes locked, causing the aircraft to slide and eventually come to a stop approximately 3,800 feet from the approach end of runway 24.
The pilot of N6026K reported crossing the intersection of runway 24 with an indicated airspeed of 40 to 50 knots. The pilot noticed the Piaggio in full braking mode and turning sideways but proceeded with the takeoff rotation. There were no injuries to any crew or passengers, and no damage was sustained by N6026K. The Piaggio required replacement of tires, wheels, and brake assemblies following the incident.
The investigation
The tower controller stated that he was distracted during the event and failed to observe the near-collision, which resulted in him not canceling the takeoff clearance for either aircraft.