Incident Summary
On July 9, 2008, at 10:10 am eastern daylight time, a runway incursion occurred at Teterboro Airport (TEB) in Teterboro, New Jersey, involving N316AS, a Cessna 172, and N277QS, a Dassault Falcon 2000 (F2TH). The incursion took place during day visual meteorological conditions. The closest proximity between the two aircraft was reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as 1,200 feet. There was no damage or injuries reported for either aircraft.
Flight History
N316AS had departed Lincoln Park Airport (N07), located 13 miles northwest of Teterboro Airport, on a visual flight rules (VFR) Part 91 pleasure flight. The aircraft landed at TEB on runway 19 at approximately 10:08 am. After clearing the runway at taxiway Q, the ground controller queried the pilot about his destination on the airport. The pilot advised that he wanted to depart TEB to the northwest. Ground control instructed N316AS to taxi to and hold short of runway 19 via taxiway L. Taxiway L crossed runway 24 between taxiway Q and the approach end of runway 24. N316AS was not directed to hold short of runway 24.
Meanwhile, the tower local controller instructed N277QS to taxi into position and hold on runway 24 to allow adequate separation to develop between a previous departure. N277QS was departing TEB on an IFR Part 135 flight to Daniel Oduber International Airport in Liberia, Costa Rica. At approximately 10:10 am, the local controller cleared N277QS for takeoff. As N277QS began its takeoff roll, the local controller observed N316AS approaching runway 24 and appearing not to slow down. The local controller canceled the takeoff clearance for N277QS as the front line manager directed the ground controller to stop N316AS. The local controller also issued a go-around to an arriving aircraft inbound for runway 24. N316AS crossed the hold short line of runway 24 but did not proceed onto the runway surface before stopping. N277QS reduced its ground speed to taxi speed, completed a 180-degree turn on the runway, and returned to the approach end of runway 24 as directed. N277QS departed TEB shortly thereafter, and N316AS departed TEB off runway 24 shortly after.
Personnel and Aircraft
N277QS had a flight crew of three (pilot, co-pilot/first officer, and flight attendant) and six passengers, totaling nine people on board. N316AS had a single pilot on board with no passengers or co-pilot. The TEB tower ground controller entered duty with the FAA in July 2007 and was certified on the ground control position on June 26, 2008. The incident occurred during the day shift with a front line manager, three air traffic control specialists, and one developmental controller on position in the control tower. The ground controller had been on position for 40 minutes and was responsible for five aircraft.
Meteorological Conditions
The TEB weather observation at 9:51 am was: wind 210 at 8 knots, visibility 9 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 27°C, dew point 21°C, altimeter 29.81 inHg.
Airport Information
Teterboro Airport serves general aviation aircraft with an annual air activity averaging 200,000 operations per year. The airport is configured with two intersecting runways: runway 1/19 (7,000 feet by 150 feet) and runway 6/24 (6,013 feet by 150 feet). The runways intersect 1,800 feet from the approach end of runway 24 and approximately 1,000 feet from the approach end of runway 19.
Additional Information
The TEB Air Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) was an ATC-7 level facility responsible for aircraft operations on the airport surface and in the Class D airspace in the airport vicinity. The TEB Class D airspace underlies Newark Liberty International Airport's Class B airspace. The control tower, constructed on the east side of the airport by the FAA, became operational on October 29, 1975. The tower was not equipped with a ground radar system such as the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS). Staffing at the time included a front line manager acting as tower supervisor, a local controller, a local control developmental, a ground controller, and a combined flight data and clearance delivery operator position. The local controller was conducting on-the-job training.