Runway Safety: Over the Line

Fort Pierce, Florida, November 13, 2011: A Beechcraft B55 Baron taxies onto an active runway without a clearance, coming within 100 feet of a landing aircraft. As you watch the video, think about some of the issues that may have contributed to the pilot’s mistake.

[toStringy]

I love these FSX reconstructions and the narrators voice is excellent!

[deeanna]

That is the most assertive "STOP!" I've ever heard on an ATC recording. I've listened to many of these, including the one where the Air Canada pilot almost landed on a taxiway on top of 4 other aircraft. The controller just causually said "Air Canada go around" like he was ordering breakfast. I was surprised at the lack of urgent tone.

[Redrumproof]

"I'm sorry Smokey. You were over the line; that's a foul."

[jennydiazvigneault]

I was doing autorotations with a student in Kinston Ontario. I was cleared to land on the runway when a commuter plane taxied out in front of me. We did an over shoot. The commuter plane pilot said he assumed since I was a helicopter that we would auto onto the parallel taxi way. It was closed with large piles of sand on it. Never assume and make way for people landing. You can't make up your own clearances. It makes ATC very upset.

[jond]

"Ive got a number you need to call..." Never a good thing to hear, especially right at the beginning of the flight. I feel like after an incident like this the pilot should have his departure cancelled and should be instructed to taxi back to parking immediately. The baron pilot seemed to have trouble understanding messages on the radio and simple instructions, not a good start. Now in addition to that he's probably feeling a little shaken up and maybe embarrassed too. Best to park the aircraft, assess what happened, and calm yourself.

[smaze]

If you're not sure or confused in any way about the taxi clearance, best to ask for a progressive taxi. I think pilots tend to either forget about this or just don't feel they need the help.

[literbeater]

Ahh yes. The old "I was doing my runup at the hold short line and accidentally 'crept' 320 feet" excuse. That's what everyone says.

[MrDlt]

Yes, it's common for high performance a/c to move forward on a run-up, but 320 feet? The BS flag is officially raised on that one.

[gmccord]

As a relatively greenhorn pilot myself with 170 hours I have flown to several airports that were not familiar to me and I simply requested progressive taxi to get back to the FBO because I wasn’t sure exactly where I was supposed to turn off. The ground controller was happy to do it. Such a request is a lifesaver and I see no harm or embarrassment to request progressive taxi.

[MrThompsonGunner]

"I have a number you need to call when you get to your destination" r.i.p. in peace

[greasemonkey]

I've done many departures and arrivals into KFPR and the layout is a bit confusing to a unfamiliar pilot. Add in taxiway closures and that jacks up the difficulty a few notches. I like to mark closed taxiways/runways from the NOTAMS on the chart, that way I don't have to remember what I read. That probably wouldn't have helped here but it would have been one less unknown and may have helped the Baron pilot be more aware of his surroundings.

[Wildcat]

No! Not the phone call! Please, not the phone call, anything but the phone call.

[dryan]

A phone call is much better than a smoke hole. Good job to the approaching aircraft.

[jjaus]

Even if you are given clearance to cross a non-active runway, I think it's asking for trouble. In this case he should have held short.

I too find it unlikely that someone wouldn't notice the a/c moving during runup.

[dmimcg]

I didn't realize my Baron move 100 yards forward, lol.  

[flightTime]

Why would that landing traffic elect to make "evasive" actions and then land instead of just going around?

[sludge]

The first instructions were to hold short of runway 14.

Then there were further instructions.

The pilot’s statement at the end, though, seemed to verify that he knew that holding short of runway 14 was still in effect.

[SgfGustafsson]

I have a feeling the pilot didn't have an airport diagram handy

[alduncine]

Nice video.  Amazing how simple things can get complicated.  Progressive taxi may have bee prudent here also. 

[georgeforall]

Should the landing aircraft have gone around instead if landing?