Englewood, CO, USA
N111FA
Gulfstream American G-1159A
According to the captain, he was cleared for a visual approach to runway 17L, which was confirmed and acknowledged. Approximately 30 seconds prior to landing, he was advised to "go around or sidestep" to runway 17R. He accepted the "sidestep" and was cleared to land runway 17R. The captain continued the approach, sidestepped to runway 17R and landed. After landing, the tower advised the captain that he had landed on taxiway Bravo. According to a witness who had completed several approaches after the Gulfstream, runway 17L and taxiway Bravo, were both "clean and clear," and runway 17R was snow covered. Taxiway Bravo is positioned between runway 17L and runway 17R. The "black" surface of runway 17L and taxiway Bravo created a "strong" contrast with the surrounding snow covered ground. Runway 17R had much less of a contrast due to the snow that remained on it. The airport's notices to airman (NOTAM) did not identify that runway 17R was snow covered.
On January 6, 2005, at 1033 mountain standard time, a Gulfstream American G-1159A, N111FA, operated by Falconcrest Aviation LLC, made an uneventful landing on taxiway Bravo at Centennial Airport (APA), Englewood, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the incident. The airline transport certificated captain, the commercial certificated co-pilot, and three passengers were not injured. An instrument flight rules (IFR) flight plan was filed for the business flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 135. The flight originated at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, at 0600. According to the captain, he was cleared for a visual approach to runway 17L, which was confirmed and acknowledged. Approximately 30 seconds prior to landing, he was advised to "go around or sidestep" to runway 17R. He accepted the "sidestep" and was cleared to land runway 17R. The captain continued the approach, sidestepped to runway 17R and landed. After landing, the tower advised the captain that he had landed on taxiway Bravo. According to a witness who had completed several approaches after the Gulfstream, runway 17L and taxiway Bravo, were both "clean and clear," and runway 17R was snow covered. Taxiway Bravo is positioned between runway 17L and runway 17R. The "black" surface of runway 17L and taxiway Bravo created a "strong" contrast with the surrounding snow covered ground. Runway 17R had much less of a contrast due to the snow that remained on it. According to an FAA inspector, the captain said that this was their first time at APA. The inspector also stated that the airport's notices to airmen (NOTAM) did not identify that runway 17R was snow covered and there were no other aircraft in the airport's movement area. The captain did not provide a Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) for this incident.
the flight crew's misidentification of the parallel taxiway as an active runway, resulting in the flight crew executing a landing on the taxiway. Contributing factors include the airport's inadequate snow removal, the snow-covered runway, the visual illusions created by the airport surface environment, and the flight crew's airport familiarization.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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