Accident Overview
A Beechcraft 1900C, registration N87GL, and a Beechcraft A90, registration N1127D, collided at the intersection of runways 13 and 04. The 1900C was in its landing roll on runway 13, while the A90 was in its takeoff roll on runway 04. The collision occurred at the point where the two runways cross.
Communication and Misunderstanding
The flight crew of the Beechcraft 1900C had made appropriate efforts to coordinate their approach and landing through radio communications and visual monitoring. However, they mistook a transmission from a Cherokee pilot—who stated he was holding for departure on runway 04—as a response from the Beechcraft A90 to their request for the A90's intentions. Consequently, the 1900C crew mistakenly believed that the Beechcraft A90 was not planning to take off until after the 1900C had cleared the runway.
Pilot Actions
The pilot of the Beechcraft A90 failed to announce his intention to take off over the common traffic advisory frequency. This omission created a potential for collision between the two airplanes. The A90 commenced its takeoff roll while the 1900C was still on the landing roll on the intersecting runway.
Official Findings
The official probable cause determined that the pilots of the King Air A90 failed to effectively monitor the common traffic advisory frequency or to properly scan for traffic, resulting in their commencing a takeoff roll when the Beechcraft 1900C (operating as United Express flight 5925) was landing on an intersecting runway. Contributing to the cause was the Cherokee pilot's interrupted radio transmission, which led to the Beechcraft 1900C pilot's misunderstanding of the transmission as an indication that the King Air would not take off until after flight 5925 had cleared the runway. Contributing to the severity of the accident and the loss of life were the lack of adequate aircraft rescue and firefighting services and the failure of the air stair door on the Beechcraft 1900C to be opened.