Incident Overview
On July 4, 2013, at 1712 Pacific daylight time, an airborne conflict occurred at McCarran International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, Nevada, involving Southwest Airlines flight 1196 (SWA1196) and N426QS, a Gulfstream 4 business jet. SWA1196 was executing a go-around maneuver after a visual approach to runway 25L, while N426QS had just departed from runway 19R.
Sequence of Events
The radar approach controller cleared SWA1196 for a visual approach to Runway 25L and instructed the pilot to contact Las Vegas Tower at 1708:14. The aircraft turned onto the final approach course about 6 miles from the airport but did not contact the LC1 controller until 1711:53. At that time, the aircraft was over the runway and passing taxiway A3. The pilot announced a go-around due to a 20-knot tailwind. The LC1 controller acknowledged and immediately advised the pilot of traffic "just lifting off" from runway 19R, instructing the pilot to report the traffic in sight.
At 1712:09, the LC1 controller instructed SWA1196 to fly runway heading and climb to 7,000 feet. The pilot read back the clearance and reported the traffic in sight. The controller told the pilot to maintain visual separation from the traffic. At 1712:29, the LC1 controller coordinated the go-around with the radar approach controller, stating that SWA1196 would climb to 7,000 feet and had N426QS in sight. SWA1196 subsequently completed another approach and landed.
The LC2 controller cleared N426QS for takeoff from runway 19R at 1710:59, and the pilot acknowledged. At 1712:06, the LC2 controller issued a traffic alert: "…traffic alert, Boeing 737 off your left going around off 25, stay low." The pilot responded, "all right sir we're looking for him 426QS have him in sight." At 1712:17, the controller transmitted, "Gulfstream 6QS roger maintain visual separation, he's climbing to 7,000, stay low." The pilot acknowledged, "'k we'll stay low thank you." At 1712:32, the N426QS pilot reported, "and we're getting an RA we're climbing at this time 426QS." The controller replied, "…roger traffic no factor, well behind and lower than you," and subsequently instructed the pilot to contact departure control.
Pilot Comments
The pilot of SWA1196 later contacted the tower supervisor via telephone to discuss the handling of the go-around, expressing concern about the apparent lack of urgency on the part of the LC1 controller and the need for clearer instructions to resolve the conflict.
Radar Data
Preliminary review of FAA radar data indicated that the minimum separation between the two aircraft was approximately 0.21 nautical miles laterally and 400 to 500 feet vertically.
Further Information
Additional details are available in the air traffic control group chairman's report in the docket for this case.