Accident Overview
On the date of the accident, a Beechcraft 1900C, registration N87GL, operating as United Express flight 5925, was in its landing roll on runway 13. Concurrently, a Beechcraft A90, registration N1127D, was in its takeoff roll on runway 04. The two aircraft collided at the intersection of runways 13 and 04.
Sequence of Events
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 Cherokee pilot’s transmission—stating that he was holding for departure on runway 04—as a response from the Beechcraft A90 to their request for the Beechcraft A90’s intentions. Consequently, the Beechcraft 1900C crew mistakenly believed that the Beechcraft A90 was not planning to take off until after the Beechcraft 1900C had cleared the runway. The failure of the Beechcraft A90 pilot to announce over the common traffic advisory frequency his intention to take off created the potential for collision.
Probable Cause
The official probable cause findings state: "The failure of the pilots in the King Air A90 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 (United Express flight 5925) was landing on an intersecting runway. Contributing to the cause of the accident was the Cherokee pilot's interrupted radio transmission, which led to the Beechcraft 1900C pilot's misunderstanding of the transmission as an indication from the King Air that it 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."