Lear Cleared For Takeoff As Southwest B737 Cleared To Cross Runway

The NTSB has released a preliminary report in a near-collision which occurred at Midway Airport in Chicago December 1st. The prelim seems to indicate that there was a miss-communication between ATC and the pilots of the two aircraft involved.

NTSB Identification: OPS12IA167A
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Incident occurred Thursday, December 01, 2011 in Chicago, IL
Aircraft: LEARJET INC 45, registration: N570AM
Injuries: 85 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

GAJ17, a LJ45, was instructed to Line Up and Wait (LUAW) on runway 31R. SWA844, a B737, had landed on runway 31C and, as the B737 was rolling out, the LJ45 was cleared for take-off on runway 31R.

The B737 exited Runway 31C at taxiway B and while still on runway 31C, was instructed to cross runway 31R and contact Ground Control. The B737 crossed the hold short line for runway 31R conflicting with the departing LJ45. The first officer of the B737 saw the LJ45 departing runway 31R and yelled for the captain, who was at the controls, to stop. The captain stopped the B737 short of the runway edge.

Air traffic control did not cancel the take off clearance of the LJ45 nor direct the B737 to hold short of runway 31R. The pilot of the B737 alleged that the departing LJ45 overflew his aircraft. The closest of the B737 to the LJ45 was 287 feet lateral and 62 feet vertical.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov