Fri, Sep 24, 2010
Incident Involved A Commercial Jetliner And A Small Cargo
Aircraft
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a
near midair collision between a commercial jetliner and a small
cargo aircraft that came within an estimated 50 to 100 feet of
colliding near the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport (MSP).
On September 16, 2010, about 0649 CDT, US Airways flight
1848 (AWE 1848), an Airbus 320, was cleared for takeoff on
runway 30R en route to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, carrying
five crewmembers and 90 passengers. At the same time, Bemidji
Aviation Services flight 46 (BMJ46), a Beech 99 cargo flight with
only the pilot aboard, was cleared for takeoff on runway 30L en
route to La Crosse, Wisconsin. Weather conditions at the time were
reported as a 900-foot ceiling and 10 miles visibility below the
clouds.
Immediately after departure, the tower instructed the US Airways
crew to turn left and head west, causing the flight to cross paths
with the cargo aircraft approximately one-half mile past the end of
runway 30L. Neither pilot saw the other aircraft because they were
in the clouds, although the
captain of the US Airways flight reported hearing the Beech 99 pass
nearby. Estimates based on recorded radar data indicate that the
two aircraft had 50 to 100 feet of vertical separation as they
passed each other approximately 1500 feet above the ground.
The US Airways aircraft was equipped with a Traffic Alert and
Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that issued climb instructions to
the crew to avert collision. The Beech 99 was not equipped with
TCAS and the pilot was unaware of the proximity of the Airbus.
There were no reports of damage or injuries as a result of the
incident.
NTSB and FAA investigators conducted a preliminary investigation
at the Minneapolis airport traffic control tower on September 18th
and 19th and are continuing to review the circumstances of this
incident.
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