Runway collision involving N683AV and N388US

12 fatalities • Los Angeles, United States of America • Takeoff (climb)

A runway collision occurred between two aircraft after a controller issued a landing clearance to an aircraft that was already positioned on the active runway.

What happened

On the day of the accident, the aircraft identified as N683AV, an SKW5569 flight, was instructed by air traffic control to proceed to intersection 45 on runway 24L and hold its position. While the aircraft was occupying the runway, the local controller was managing another aircraft and subsequently cleared N388US for landing.

This resulted in a collision between the two aircraft. Following the impact, both planes slid off the runway and came to a stop at an empty fire station. There were no fatalities reported in the incident.

Findings

Investigations revealed that the local controller failed to recognize that the first aircraft was still on the runway due to being distracted by other traffic. A significant contributing factor was the absence of a flight progress strip at the local ground control position. Because the tower's operating procedures did not require these strips to be processed through that specific position, the controller lacked the necessary information to identify the aircraft correctly.

Additionally, it was noted that the technical appraisal program intended for air traffic controllers was not being utilized effectively. This lack of oversight was attributed to a lack of understanding among supervisors and the fact that appraisal histories were not readily available.

Probable cause

The local controller issued a landing clearance to an aircraft while another was still on the runway due to a lack of situational awareness and the absence of flight progress strip information.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1991-02-01 Swearingen SA227 Metro III accident near Los Angeles, United States of America?

A runway collision occurred between two aircraft after a controller issued a landing clearance to an aircraft that was already positioned on the active runway.

Were there any fatalities in the 1991-02-01 Swearingen SA227 Metro III accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 12 fatalities.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1991-02-01 involved a Swearingen SA227 Metro III, registration N683AV, operated by SkyWest Airlines - USA, at Los Angeles, United States of America.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The local controller issued a landing clearance to an aircraft while another was still on the runway due to a lack of situational awareness and the absence of flight progress strip information.

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