What happened
During taxiing operations in dense fog, the crew of a Korean Air Lines flight became disoriented, leading them to mistakenly utilize the incorrect runway. As the DC-10 began its takeoff roll, it collided head-on with South Central Air Flight 59, a Piper PA-31 with registration N35206, which was departing from runway 06L-24R for Kenai. The impact and subsequent movement resulted in the 9 occupants of the Piper aircraft sustaining injuries. Following the collision, the larger aircraft overran the runway by 1434 feet, eventually coming to a stop 40 feet to the right of the extended centerline.
Findings
Investigations determined that the primary cause was the Korean Air Lines pilot's failure to adhere to standard taxi procedures, which led to runway disorientation. The pilot also failed to utilize the aircraft's compass to verify his location and proceeded with takeoff despite uncertainty regarding his position on the airfield. Several environmental and infrastructural factors contributed to the event, including heavy fog that obscured visibility for both the flight crew and air traffic controllers. Additionally, a lack of clearly legible taxiway and runway signage at various intersections hindered the crew's ability to navigate correctly.