What happened
On a snowy morning at Calgary International Airport, a Jetstream 31 was being repositioned from the main passenger terminal to the Avitat facility. The pilot, operating the aircraft alone after the first officer had disembarked, received instructions to taxi via several taxiways and hold short of runway 28. After being cleared to cross runway 28, the pilot continued forward, inadvertently entering taxiway Charlie 2, which is a one-way taxiway intended only for runway exits.
As the aircraft approached the intersection of taxiway Charlie 2 and runway 34, the pilot noticed runway lights and applied the brakes just as ground control ordered a stop. The nose of the aircraft ended up protruding past the runway edge. Simultaneously, an Air BC Dash 8 was landing on runway 34. The tower controller ordered the Dash 8 to stop immediately, and the aircraft halted approximately 1,000 feet before reaching the intersection. There were no fatalities or injuries resulting from the incident.
The investigation
The investigation established that the weather conditions involved light snow, low clouds, and reduced visibility. During the taxi, the pilot had used reverse thrust, which blew snow onto the windscreen. To clear the view, the pilot reached across the cockpit to activate the windscreen wipers. During this moment of distraction, the pilot failed to notice the "do-not-enter" signs and the runway 34 stop line.
Investigators also noted that the intersection of taxiways Golf, Charlie, and Charlie 2 is a known area of confusion for crews. The investigation found that the airport had previously implemented various lighting and signage changes to address similar issues at this specific location.
Findings
- The pilot was distracted from the primary task of taxiing while attempting to operate the windscreen wipers.
- The pilot was operating the aircraft without a second crew member to assist with monitoring.
- The necessity of using the wipers was caused by snow being blown onto the windscreen during the use of reverse thrust.
- The intersection involved complex taxiway configurations that have historically caused confusion for pilots.