General Mitchell International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53207
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 20:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

A Beech 99 and a Cessna 402 were substantially damaged in a ground collision that occurred during night taxi operations at General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Both pilots followed each of the controller's instructions to proceed to the same cargo ramp using intersecting taxiways after having landed. Neither controller had advised either pilot that other aircraft would be approaching the same taxiway intersection. Neither pilot reported seeing the other airplane approaching the taxiway intersection. The Cessna 402 landed on runway 25R and was instructed to taxi to the cargo ramp via Golf, Bravo, and Alpha taxiways. The Beech 99 landed on runway 25L. The taxi instructions given to the Beech 99 pilot were to turn right at taxiway A2 (high-speed taxiway), monitor ground on frequency 121.8, and taxi to the cargo ramp. The local controller reported he scanned taxiway A, the runway, and saw the Beech 99 clear of the runway. As the Beech 99 prepared to turn off taxiway A2 onto taxiway A, the Cessna 402 approached the taxiway A and taxiway A2 intersection. The Beech 99's right propeller impacted the Cessna 402's left wing tip fuel tank. The impact of the two airplanes resulted in a fire. Both of the pilots involved in the ground collision evacuated their respective airplanes. The FAA Order 7110.65, "Air Traffic Control," states that the absence of holding instructions authorizes an aircraft to cross all taxiways and runways that intersect the taxi route. FAA Order 7110.65, "Air Traffic Control," states that it is the procedure for controllers to instruct aircraft where to turn off the runway after landing and advise the aircraft to hold short of a runway or taxiway if required for traffic. Neither aircraft was issued hold short instructions. The Airport Surface Detection Equipment Model X (ASDE-X), provided images of each airplane's movement leading up to the time of the ground collision. The ASDE-X replay showed the Beech 99 taxiing at 20 knots on taxiway A2 approaching the taxiway A intersection. The Cessna 402 was shown taxiing at 20 knots just short of the taxiway A and taxiway A2 intersection. Both pilots reported that they did not see the other airplane approaching the same intersection while taxiing. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 states that vigilance shall be maintained by each person operating an aircraft so as to "see and avoid" other aircraft.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of both pilots to adequately scan for and avoid other aircraft traffic during taxi operations, and the failure of Air Traffic Control to issue a traffic advisory to both of the pilots. A contributing factor to the accident was the night time light conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Milwaukee
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53207
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 1
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude 425630N
Event Location Longitude 0875433W
Event Location Airport General Mitchell International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MKE
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 723
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1952 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MKE
Elevation of weather observation facility 723
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Night
Lowest Ceiling Height 3100
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) -4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23346
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Jan 24 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Mar 31 2008 11:52AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Milwaukee FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number N699CZ N7886Q
NTSB Number CHI07FA060A CHI07FA060B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter Part 135: Air Taxi & Commuter
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes Yes
Damage Substantial Substantial
Aircraft Fire Ground Ground
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Beechcraft Cessna
Aircraft Model BE99 402-B
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number U-133 402B0214
Certified Max Gross Weight 10900 6300
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 2 2
Number of Engines 2 2
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection AAIP Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Dec 1 2006 12:00AM Jan 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 75.5 --
Airframe Hours 35447 14438
ELT Installed Yes Yes
ELT Activated No No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No No
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name Freight Runners Inc. Freight Runners Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 1901 E. Layton 1901 E. Layton
Aircraft Owner City Milwaukee Milwaukee
Aircraft Owner State WI WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 53207 53207
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 -- --
Owner has at least one certificate -- --
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 Non-scheduled Non-scheduled
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Domestic Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Cargo Cargo
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) -- --
Second Pilot on Board No No
Departure Point Same as Event No No
Departure Airport Code STE DLL
Departure City Stevens Point Baraboo
Departure State WI WI
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time 1928 1922
Departure Time Zone CST CST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code MKE MKE
Destination City Milwaukee Milwaukee
Destination State WI WI
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi - from landing Taxi - from landing
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 24 2008 10:06PM Mar 24 2008 10:06PM
User who most recently changed record BOWL BOWL
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25L 25R
Runway Length 8012 4800
Runway Width 150 100
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --