Aviation Accident Summaries

Aviation Accident Summary NYC91LA021

COLUMBUS, OH, USA

Aircraft #1

N972VJ

MCDONNELL DOUGLAS DC-9-31

Aircraft #2

N6160X

CESSNA 310

Analysis

AS THE DC-9 APPROACHED TAXIWAY C-4 THE CAPTAIN WAS ADVISED BY THE FIRST OFFICER THERE WAS A AIRPLANE OFF TO THEIR ELEVEN O'CLOCK POSITION. THE CAPTAIN APPLIED BRAKES, BUT COULD NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VERTICAL STABILIZER OF A CESSNA 310. THE DC-9 CAPTAIN SAID HE DID NOT SEE ANY LIGHTS ON THE CESSNA. THE CESSNA PILOT SAID HE WAS SITTING IN POSITION TO TAKE THE RUNWAY FOR ABOUT 3 MINUTES APPROXIMATELY 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE WITH HIS ROTATING BEACON AND NAVIGATION LIGHTS ON. THE FAA DETERMINED THE DISTANCE FROM THE HOLD LINE ON TAXIWAY C-4 TO THE CENTER LINE OF THE TAXIWAY WAS 90'. HALF THE WIDTH OF THE DC-9 AND THE LENGTH OF THE CESSNA, PLUS THE 3 FEET FROM THE HOLD LINE (CESSNA'S POSITION), LEFT LITTLE ROOM FOR SEPARATION OF THE AIRPLANES.

Probable Cause and Findings

THE DC-9 PILOTS FAILED TO SEE THE CESSNA 310 AND ALTER THEIR TAXI PATH TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE.

 

Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database

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