US Airways Airbus Instructed To Turn Into Path Of Beech 99

The NTSB has released its preliminary report in a near-collision incident which occurred on September 16. A US Airways Airbus A320 was separated by only about 50-100 feet of vertical separation from a Beech 99 cargo plane at about 1,500 feet agl. In the report, the NTSB found that the Minneapolis controller instructed the Airbus pilot to turn across the path of the Beech.

NTSB Identification: OPS10IA574A
Scheduled 14 CFR Part 121: Air Carrier operation of US AIRWAYS INC
Incident occurred Thursday, September 16, 2010 in Minneapolis, MN
Aircraft: AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-214, registration: N122US
NTSB Identification: OPS10IA574B
Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Incident occurred Thursday, September 16, 2010 in Minneapolis, MN
Aircraft: BEECH C-99, registration: N7212P

Injuries: 190 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.

On September 16, 2010, about 6:49 a.m. CDT, an air traffic control operational error resulted in a near-midair-collision between US Airways flight 1848 (AWE 1848), an Airbus 320, operating as a scheduled 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 121 passenger flight en route to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, carrying five crewmembers and 90 passengers, and Bemidji Aviation Services flight 46 (BMJ46), a Beech 99 cargo flight with only the pilot aboard,operating as a 14 CFR part 135 cargo flight en route ro LaCrosse, Wisconsin. Weather conditions at the time were reported ceiling 900 feet and visibility 10 miles.

Immediately after departure, the tower instructed AWE1848 to turn left heading 260 degrees, which caused the aircraft to cross paths with BMJ on the extended centerline of runway 30L, approximately 1/2 mile past the end of the runway approximately 1,500 feet above the ground. Neither pilot saw the other aircraft because they were operating in instrument meteorological conditions. However, 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.

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.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov