Incident Details
On Friday, June 26, 2009, at approximately 0856 local time, a runway incursion occurred at Cleveland/Hopkins International Airport (CLE), Cleveland, Ohio, involving two commercial aircraft: Continental Express (BTA) flight 2426, a scheduled Part 121 flight from CLE to Kansas City International Airport (MCI), and Commutair (UCA) flight 8717, a scheduled Part 121 flight from CLE to Port Columbus International Airport (CMH). The incident took place during daylight visual conditions, with a developmental controller being monitored by a certified controller at the local control position.
Aircraft Information
Continental Express flight 2426, call sign BTA2426, was an Embraer 145 (registration N24103) carrying a crew of three (pilot, first officer, flight attendant), 40 passengers, and one lap child. Commutair flight 8717, call sign UCA8717, was a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200 (DH8, registration N375PH) carrying a crew of three (pilot, first officer, flight attendant) and 19 passengers.
Sequence of Events
At 0856, the developmental controller directed UCA8717 to taxi into position and hold on the approach end of runway 24L. BTA2426, which had taxied from spot 5 to runway 24R via taxiways J and S, was directed by the ground controller to hold short of runway 24L and then to monitor the tower local controller on frequency 120.9. Nineteen seconds after instructing UCA8717 to hold in position, the developmental trainee directed BTA2426 to cross runway 24L and advised BTA2426 that UCA8717 was in position for departure. Twenty seconds later, the developmental trainee cleared UCA8717 for takeoff with an instruction to fly runway heading. At that time, BTA2426 had not yet crossed runway 24L. UCA8717 acknowledged the takeoff clearance, and the controller then directed another aircraft to taxi into position and hold on runway 24L.
Immediately after, BTA2426 called the tower, stating, “BTA2426 we’re holding short of 24L you gave a clearance to cross though.” The developmental trainee did not respond. Ten seconds later, BTA2426 transmitted, “you copy for BTA2426,” and the trainee responded, “BTA2426 just hold there please.”
According to the pilots of UCA8717, as they positioned their aircraft on the runway, they observed BTA2426 approaching the intersection of taxiway S and runway 24L. The UCA8717 crew heard the tower clear BTA2426 to cross runway 24L, followed shortly by a takeoff clearance for UCA8717. Noticing that BTA2426 had not crossed the runway, the UCA8717 pilot planned to ask the controller about BTA2426 when BTA2426 queried the tower, “I thought I was cleared to cross.” After a few seconds of silence, BTA2426 stated it would hold short. The UCA8717 pilot then commenced the takeoff roll, and afterward, BTA2426 crossed runway 24L at taxiway S.
Eighteen seconds later, BTA2426 was directed to taxi across runway 24L and was advised that traffic was holding in position. BTA2426 crossed runway 24L without further incident.