Collision between SAS MD-87 and Cessna 525A at Milan-Linate (D-IEVX)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Involved On the morning of 8 October 2001, a Cessna 525A CitationJet 2, registration D-IEVX, arrived at Milan-Linate from Köln. The aircraft was scheduled to return to Paris-Le Bourget with two pilots, a Cessna sales manager, and a prospective customer. The Cessna taxied to the General Aviation apron, also referred to as the West apron. At the same time, a SAS McDonnell Douglas MD-87, operating flight SK686 to Copenhagen, was parked on the North apron. The aircraft had completed boarding of 104 passengers and was preparing for departure. ## Sequence of Events At 07:41, the MD-87 pilot requested engine-start clearance from Linate Ground Control. The controller issued the clearance and advised that the slot time for takeoff was 08:16. Thirteen minutes later, the MD-87 was cleared to taxi to runway 36R. Shortly afterward, the Cessna pilot requested permission to start the engines and received start-up clearance. The ground controller then instructed the MD-87 to contact the Tower controller. From that point, the MD-87 and Cessna crews were on different radio frequencies. At 08:05, the Cessna pilots received a taxi clearance to taxi north via Romeo 5, with instructions to call back at the stop bar of the main runway extension. The pilot acknowledged the clearance. ## Runway Incursion and Collision While taxiing from the General Aviation parking position, the Cessna followed the yellow taxi line. At a point where the taxi line split into two directions, the pilot took the line to the right and entered taxiway R6. At 08:09, the ground controller cleared the Cessna to continue taxiing on the North apron. At the same time, the tower controller cleared the MD-87 for takeoff on runway 36. The MD-87 pilot acknowledged the clearance and began rolling. As the MD-87 accelerated down the runway, the Cessna crossed the runway holding sign and entered active runway 18L/36R. At 08:10:21, the MD-87’s nose landing gear had left the ground, and the main wheels were still on the ground at an airspeed of 146 knots. The MD-87 crew likely saw the Cessna through the fog and applied additional nose-up elevator. The MD-87 then collided with the Cessna. ## Damage and Aftermath The MD-87’s right wing leading edge was damaged, and the right main landing gear leg broke off. The aircraft’s right flap was damaged, and the number 2 engine separated from its pylon. The MD-87 became airborne for approximately 12 seconds, reaching an estimated height of about 35 feet. The left engine suffered a noticeable thrust reduction due to debris ingestion, which was insufficient to sustain flight. The airspeed increased to 166 knots, but the MD-87 descended abruptly and made contact with the runway using the left main gear, the truncated right main gear leg, and the tip of the right wing. The pilot reduced engine thrust before touchdown. After ground contact, the engine reverse levers were activated and deployed on the left engine only. Maximum available reverse thrust was selected, and the brakes were applied. The aircraft skidded past the grass overrun area, crossed a service road, and crashed sideways into a baggage handling building, which partly collapsed. The building was located 20 meters to the right of the runway and 460 meters from the runway end. ## Personnel Both pilots of the Cessna were German citizens. The passengers were Mr. Stefano Romanello, representative for Cessna Aircraft in Europe, and Mr. Luca Fossati, President of the Star food group.