Controllers Warn Saratoga Before Takeoff On Wrong Runway

The FAA says another aircraft nearly departed the wrong runway at Lexington's Blue Grass Airport on November 9.

In an eerie repeat of the Comair Flight 5191 tragedy, a Piper Saratoga cleared for takeoff on the airport's longer runway 22 lined up instead on runway 26. One of the two tower controllers on duty alerted the pilot, who then taxied to the correct runway and made a safe departure.

The controller handling the flight filed a report using NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS). ASRS is a safety improvement program allowing those involved to anonymously report incidents without fear of FAA enforcement action.

A copy of that report was subsequently released by the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA). A NATCA spokesman says the incident highlights the value of having two controllers on duty.

Earlier this summer Comair Flight 5191 attempted to depart runway 26 after cleared for departure on 22. That attempt ended in disaster as the regional jet crashed off the departure end the runway killing 49 of the 50 people aboard. There was only one controller on duty the morning of that accident.

FAA rules at the time required more than one duty controller, but staffing shortages at Blue Grass led management to ignore that mandate for overnight hours when traffic was typically light. NATCA made much of the fact in the media following the accident suggesting had two controllers been on duty it might not have occurred.

Runway 26 was closed at the time of the Comair accident which happened before dawn on August 27. There were several taxiway and runway construction projects underway that may have led to the crew's confusion. Construction on runway 26 has since been completed and that runway is operational.

An FAA spokesperson told the Louisville Courier-Journal the agency won't formally investigate, but it would like to understand the incident. The NTSB says it will look into the situation as part of its larger Flight 5191 investigation.

The airport's managers say the FAA recently inspected its runway and taxiway signage and markings finding them all in compliance with federal standards.

FMI: www.faa.gov