La Guardia Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Flushing, New York 11301
Wednesday, May 21, 2003 22:10 EDT

The Dassault was issued taxi instructions from the ground controller, which included holding short of taxiway Echo. The PIC of the Dassault understood it as, "make two left turns and taxi to runway 13 for takeoff, via taxiways F and BB." While taxing north on taxiway BB, the Dassault collided with a Saab 340B at the intersections of taxiway's BB and E. The PIC added that both he and the co-pilot had their heads down in the cockpit as they were conducting checklists at the time of the collision. According to the captain of the Saab, he received instructions from the ground controller to cross runway 4, make a right hand turn onto "[taxiway] CC," and continue to runway 13. After crossing runway 4, the captain of the Saab "noted a Dassault airplane taxiing on '[taxiway] BB,' but had heard his 'hold short' instruction and called for the taxi checklist." As the Saab flightcrew was in the process of completing the taxi checklist, the Dassault struck their airplane from the left. Examination of taxiway BB, during the hours of darkness, by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that there were no taxiway indicator markers informing a pilot that taxiway E was approaching. The inspector noted that taxiway BB, and its intersection with taxiway E, was dimly lit with ambient lighting, although centerline lighting was available. Review of FAA Advisory Circular 120-74, Part 91 Pilot and Flightcrew Procedures During Taxi Operations and Part 135 Single Pilot operations, revealed, "For aircraft operations where more than one pilot is in the cockpit/flight deck, the flightcrew should plan the timing and execution of aircraft checklists and company communications at the appropriate times and locations so the pilot who is not taxiing the aircraft can be available to participate in verbal coordination with the pilot who is taxiing the aircraft. This action is needed to confirm compliance with ATC taxi instructions at the appropriate times and locations. When planning these tasks, flightcrews should also consider the anticipated duration of the taxi operation, the locations of complex intersections and runway crossings, and the visibility along the taxi route. When conducting airport surface operations, you should always be aware of your situation as it relates to other aircraft operations going on around you as well as to other vehicles moving on the airport. You should know your aircraft's precise location on the movement area."

The inadequate visual lookout and inadequate crew coordination of the Dassault DA-50 flightcrew while taxiing, which resulted in an on ground collision with a taxing Saab 340B. A factor in the accident was the dark night.