Runway Incursion at Calgary International Airport Involving Piper Cheyenne and Boeing 737

Casualties unknown • BOEING 737-200 C-FCPN and Carson Air Ltd., CA

A Boeing 737 narrowly avoided a collision with a Piper Cheyenne after the smaller aircraft slid toward the edge of the runway during an icy taxiway exit at Calgary International Airport.

What happened

During a night operation at Calgary International Airport, Alberta, a Piper Cheyenne landed on runway 34 after arriving from Kelowna, British Columbia. Following touchdown, the pilot was directed to exit the runway via taxiway Uniform. However, as the aircraft attempted the turn, it began to slide due to icy conditions near the taxiway. The aircraft eventually came to a stop with its nose gear positioned just off the runway edge.

Approximately three miles behind the Cheyenne, a Boeing 737 arriving from Dorval, Quebec, was cleared to land on the same runway. As the Boeing 737 touched down and the crew engaged reverse thrust, they observed the Cheyenne still occupying the active runway. The Boeing crew reported passing behind the stationary aircraft with approximately 15 feet of clearance while traveling at speeds between 100 and 115 knots.

The investigation

The investigation established that while the runway centerline remained bare and dry, the runway edges and several taxiways, including taxiway Uniform, were covered in ice. Weather conditions were reported as CAVOK (ceiling and visibility okay), but the darkness of the night combined with icy surfaces created significant challenges for traffic detection.

Both aircraft were found to be properly certified, equipped, and maintained according to regulations. The flight crews were both certified and qualified for their respective operations. Furthermore, tower staffing and equipment were found to be in compliance with all necessary standards and were fully serviceable.

Findings

  • The primary cause of the incident was that the spacing provided between the arriving and preceding aircraft was insufficient to account for unforeseen events during unfavorable surface conditions.
  • The icy state of the runway sides and taxiway exits contributed to the Cheyenne's inability to exit the runway as planned.
  • Low-light conditions at night further hindered the ability of the crews to detect the hazard.
  • The Cheyenne crew failed to provide an explicit or assertive communication to the tower indicating that they had not cleared the active runway.

Probable cause

The separation between the two arriving aircraft was inadequate to manage the unexpected sliding of the preceding aircraft on icy surfaces, a situation further complicated by the Cheyenne crew's failure to clearly communicate that they remained on the active runway.

Related events

Same operator

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1995-12-20 Canadian Airlines International Ltd. accident near BOEING 737-200 C-FCPN and Carson Air Ltd., CA?

A Boeing 737 narrowly avoided a collision with a Piper Cheyenne after the smaller aircraft slid toward the edge of the runway during an icy taxiway exit at Calgary International Airport.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1995-12-20 involved a Canadian Airlines International Ltd., operated by between, at BOEING 737-200 C-FCPN and Carson Air Ltd., CA.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The separation between the two arriving aircraft was inadequate to manage the unexpected sliding of the preceding aircraft on icy surfaces, a situation further complicated by the Cheyenne crew's failure to clearly communicate that they remained on the active runway.

Loading the flight search…