FAA Animation Runway Incursion Providence, Rhode Island

Another version of the Providence Runway Incursion with the airport overlay. Courtesy FAA

On December 6, 1999, at about 8:35 p.m., United Airlines flight 1448, a Boeing 757, was involved in a runway incursion on runway 5 Right at Theodore Francis Green State Airport, near Providence, Rhode Island. At the time of the incident, it was dark and the reported visibility was one-quarter mile.

After United 1448 landed on runway 5 Right, the tower controller instructed the flight crew to proceed to the terminal using taxiways November and Tango, and report crossing runway 16. During their taxi in the fog, the flight crew became disoriented and turned onto taxiway Bravo by mistake. They then provided incorrect position reports to the tower controller. The airplane ended up at the intersection of Runway 16 and Runway 23 left. Note that Runways 23 Left and 5 Right are opposite ends of the same runway. Shortly afterward, a Federal Express aircraft taking off from runway 5 Right passed very close to United 1448. The subsequent conversation between the tower controller and United 1448 shows continued uncertainty about the aircraft's position. For example, there will be several references to Runway 23 right while the airplane is actually on 23 left.

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[KuostA]

that is one dumb bitch of a controller. She was TOLD by the PIC that he was ON an ACTIVE runway AND had JUST been nearly hit yet is still ignorant enough to not understand what was going on and clears an aircraft to take off in a high-stress, high confusion situation where you should STOP to regain your bearings.

[HaxOrTM]

smart guy holding short

[MrApaca]

no comment



[jimbk17]

@leedickerson She didn't, is still there and still just as rude in high stress situations.

[JimFlier]

@Chris - Yes & No. You probably know where the taxiways are at your local airport just due to continued exposure to them. But I NEVER turn On or Off ANY taxiway without seeing the appropriate signs. If in doubt, stop & ask for help from ground/tower. If it is an unfamiliar airport, I always study the airport diagram before I go. And then I repeat the same thing that I do at my local field. if in doubt, the term "progressive taxi" to ground control is your friend!!

[chrisgast]

I have a question, as a student pilot: do pilots already know where each taxiway is from the runways - without having to look at the airport diagram/chart? If so, how? I'm not sure my instructor has shown me that yet.

[chrisgast]

@j2ching They knew because they were holding short of takeoff, and listening to the situation. You can tell just by listening to this conversation that there is confusion - it's very clear there is confusion. They weren't cleared to take off, until ATC cleared them at close to the end of the video. Bravo, to US Air 2998! Well done! This won't deter me, as a student pilot - but it will make me realize that I need to be a lot more aware of my airport surroundings - even with ATC.

[TheTriforcebearer]

this looks like a website i was wondering where i could find it. is it a atc type website where it shows close calls and such?

[SayaAensland]

-Pilot reports they're on 23 Right

-Pilot reports they can see taxiway Kilo.

-It is not possible to see taxiway Kilo from 23 Right.

-Pilot reports that they are on an active runway.

Occam's Razor: Pilot is not on the runway he thinks he is.

The conclusion that the ATC takes: The pilots are hallucinating about ever seeing taxiway Kilo or a plane taking off.

[oracle2world]

That USAir pilots are destined to become those "old pilots". You know, there are old pilots and bold pilots, but no old bold pilots.

[Vincentvuoto]

Yeah the US Air crew was smart. And the controller should have held Fedex and USAir, until she knew exactly where United was. She seemed agitated and impulsive. Good video to learn from.

[jwboll]

@j2ching the pilot of 2998 knew something was wrong by paying attention and maintaining situational awareness. (listening to the ground station radio)

(he also probably has a wife at home, and anyone who's married knows when a woman sounds like that, you need to pay attention)