Logan International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Boston, Massachusetts 02101
Thursday, June 9, 2005 19:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airport was conducting operations on intersecting runways. The local east controller (LCE) was responsible for aircraft operating on runways 4R and 9, and the local west controller (LCW) was responsible for aircraft operating on runways 15R and 4L. Runway 15R intersected three active runways: 4L, 4R, and 9. The LCW was responsible for an Airbus A330, and the LCE was responsible for a Boeing 737. Both controllers were utilizing different frequencies. At 1927:51, the Airbus was instructed to taxi into position and hold on runway 15R. At 1938:24, the LCE contacted the LCW, and reported that he "observed and released" the Airbus. At 1939:10, the LCW cleared the Airbus for takeoff. Five seconds later, the LCE cleared the Boeing for takeoff from runway 9, which resulted in a runway incursion. Boston Tower Order 7110.11J, "Standard Operating Procedures" required the LCW to obtain a release from LCE in order to depart airplanes from runway 15R. Once the release was issued, LCE was required to stop operations on runways 4R and 9 until the airplane departed. Federal Aviation Administration Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, paragraph 3-9-8, Intersecting Runway Separation, stated in part: "Separate departing aircraft from an aircraft using an intersecting runway, or nonintersecting runways when the flight paths intersect, by ensuring that the departure does not begin takeoff roll until one of the following exists: a. The preceding aircraft has departed and passed the intersection, has crossed the departure runway, or is turning to avert any conflict... ."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The local east controller's failure to follow FAA Order 7110.65, para 3-9-8 and Boston Tower Order 7110.11, Standard Operating Procedures, which resulted in a runway incursion during takeoff involving two transport category airplanes.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 6/9/2005
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1940
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Boston
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02101
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422151N
Event Location Longitude 0710018W
Event Location Airport Logan International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID BOS
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 15
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1954 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID BOS
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 8
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 80
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 448
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21495
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England Region
NTSB Notification Date Jun 10 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2007 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number EI-ORD N394US
NTSB Number NYC05IA095A NYC05IA095B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 129: Foreign Part 121: Air Carrier
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes Yes
Damage None None
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Airbus Industrie Boeing
Aircraft Model A330-301 737-3B7
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number 0059 23316
Certified Max Gross Weight 509000 135000
Aircraft Category Airplane Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No No
Flight Crew Seats -- --
Cabin Crew Seats -- --
Passenger Seats -- --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 320 132
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection -- Apr 1 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- 54048
ELT Installed Yes No
ELT Activated No --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No --
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name AER LINGUS IRISH INTERNATIONAL AIRL US AIRWAYS INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- 2345 Crystal Drive
Aircraft Owner City Dublin Arlington
Aircraft Owner State -- VA
Aircraft Owner Country EI USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode -- 22227
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- --
Operator State -- --
Operator Country -- --
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code MEDF USA4
Owner has at least one certificate None --
Other Operator of large aircraft? -- --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation -- --
Operator Certificate Number -- --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Scheduled Scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight International Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Passenger Only Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) -- --
Second Pilot on Board Yes Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code BOS BOS
Departure City Boston Boston
Departure State MA MA
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1940 1940
Departure Time Zone EDT EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code EINN PHL
Destination City Shannon Philadephia
Destination State -- PA
Destination Country EI USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 12 2007 11:17AM Apr 12 2007 11:17AM
User who most recently changed record SCHL SCHL
Since inspection or accident -- Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 15R 09
Runway Length 10083 7000
Runway Width 150 150
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --