Memphis International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Memphis, Tennessee
Thursday, October 11, 2007 19:40 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On October 11, 2007, at approximately 7:40 pm Central daylight time, N241EP, a Cessna Citation 525, took off on taxiway M at Memphis International Airport, Memphis, Tennessee during night visual meteorological conditions. The tower controller cleared the flight for takeoff on runway 36L when the airplane was on taxiway N. The crew acknowledged the clearance, turned right, and began takeoff roll on taxiway M. The tower controller made two transmissions to advise that the aircraft was departing on a taxiway. The crew of N241EP acknowledged just after lifting off taxiway M. Holding on taxiway M at M6 was Pinnacle Airlines (FLG) flight 5905, a CRJ2. The initial report from the Federal Aviation Administration stated that N241EP over flew FLG5905 by 400 to 500 feet. The FAA classified the incident as a pilot deviation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The probable cause of this incident was the pilot's inadvertent departure from a taxiway instead of a runway.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 10/11/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1940
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Memphis
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 350232N
Event Location Longitude 0895836W
Event Location Airport Memphis International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KMEM
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 341
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KMEM
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
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) 29.98
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 5
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22764
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 12 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 30 2007 3:42PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office HQ

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number --
NTSB Number OPS08IA001
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part --
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage None
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model C 525
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number --
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name --
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City --
Aircraft Owner State --
Aircraft Owner Country --
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
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 --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code KMEM
Departure City Memphis
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1940
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 5T6
Destination City Santa Theresa
Destination State NM
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 20 2007 11:22AM
User who most recently changed record ROWS
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --