Incident Overview
On the morning of June 25, 2008, aircraft WDR988, tail number N988PA, departed Westchester County Airport (HPN) at approximately 5:20 am under a 14 CFR Part 135 instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan to Teterboro Airport (TEB) for passenger pickup. The pilot in command reported that no NOTAMs closing runway 19 at TEB were in effect prior to departure.
After departure, New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (N90) assigned a northwesterly heading for about 15 miles, then cleared WDR988 direct to TEB. When the flight was 10-12 miles from TEB, the crew advised N90 they had the airport in sight, and N90 cleared them for a visual approach to runway 19, directing them to contact TEB tower.
Landing Sequence
At approximately 5:30 am, WDR988 contacted TEB tower and was cleared to land on runway 19. The pilot in command stated that it was dark and runway lights for runway 19 were illuminated. About 400-500 feet above touchdown, the flight crew noticed men and equipment in the displaced threshold area of runway 19, but not on the runway itself. The men were near a truck with a yellow X attached or in tow, and appeared to be standing by in preparation to close the runway. The vehicles in the displaced threshold had illuminated rotating beacons. The crew verified that they were cleared to land and proceeded.
After landing and during rollout, just before exiting the runway, the pilots observed an erected "X" at the approach end of runway 1. The pilots stated that this X was not lighted and was not visible until they were near the departure end of runway 19.
Post-Landing Actions
WDR988 was directed to taxi to Atlantic Aviation FBO. After fueling and picking up passengers, the aircraft departed for Nashville International Airport (BNA) at approximately 6:52 am. Neither ATC advised the crew that they had landed on a closed runway, nor did the crew query the tower about the possibility.
Tower and Airport Operations
The incursion occurred during the midnight shift with one controller in the tower, as scheduled. The FAA reported that runway 1/19 had been closed by Airport Operations and confirmed closed by the tower controller. The tower log reflected runway 1/19 closed at 5:13 am. According to TEB Airport Operations, FSS NOTAM 06/105 was in effect, closing runway 1/19 from 5:00 am to 2:00 pm.
The local controller had placed two runway incursion devices (RID) on the flight progress strip bays as reminders of the closure. However, the controller did not inform N90 TRACON of the closure, as required by FAA Order 7110.65, paragraph 3-10-2. Additionally, the ATIS was not updated to reflect the closure, per FAA Order 7110.65, paragraph 2-9-2.
Airport operations personnel had placed a lighted X at the approach end of runway 1 and were in the process of erecting an unlighted X at the approach end of runway 19 when WDR988 overflew them. Two employees were working north of the displaced threshold of runway 19, between taxiways L/A and B.
ATC Communication
Approximately 7 minutes before the incident, N90 TRACON called the tower controller to request a visual approach to runway 19 for WDR988, which was approved. On initial contact, the tower controller cleared WDR988 to land on runway 19. The controller had been working the local control position for 7 hours and 21 minutes.
Environmental Conditions
At the time of the incident, it was daylight, wind calm, sky clear, with 10 statute miles visibility. Official sunrise occurred at 5:26 am.