Incident Overview
On an unspecified date, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (registration N954U) and a Cessna 441 (registration N441KM) collided during the MD-82's takeoff roll on runway 30R at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. The Cessna had positioned itself on the runway without authorization, waiting for departure.
Sequence of Events
The Cessna pilot, after receiving taxi clearance to back-taxi into position and hold on runway 31, instead taxied to an intersection on runway 30R. The pilot acted on a preconceived idea that he would use runway 30R for departure, the same runway he had used for arrival. At the time, the Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) listed runways 30R and 30L as active for arrivals and departures, with no mention of the occasional use of runway 31.
Air traffic control personnel lost visual contact with the Cessna after it moved from the well-lighted ramp area into the runway/taxiway environment in the northeast portion of the airport. The MD-82, which had been assigned runway 30R for departure, began its takeoff roll and collided with the Cessna.
Contributing Factors
The investigation noted that an operational Airport Surface Detection Equipment system (ASDE-3), particularly one enhanced with the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS), could have supplemented visual scanning of the northeast airport area and potentially prevented the accident.
Probable Cause
The Cessna 441 pilot's mistaken belief that his assigned departure runway was runway 30R, which resulted in his undetected entrance onto runway 30R, which was being used by the MD82 for its departure. Contributing to the accident was the lack of Automatic Terminal Information Service and other air traffic control (ATC) information regarding the occasional use of runway 31 for departure. The installation and utilization of Airport Surface Detection Equipment (ASDE-3), and particularly ASDE-3 enhanced with the Airport Movement Area Safety System (AMASS), could have prevented this accident.