Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Teterboro, New Jersey
Thursday, December 27, 2007 8:02 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On December 27, 2007, 0802 Eastern Standard time, a runway incursion occurred at Teterboro Airport (TEB), Teterboro, New Jersey involving East Coast Jets (ECJ) flight 81, registration number N818MV, a Hawker 25, and N90AM, a G5. There was training in progress on ground control and there was a certified professional controller on local control. Tower staffing included a tower supervisor, a local controller, a ground controller and ground control developmental and a fight data/clearance delivery controller. ECJ 81 had landed on runway 6 and was advised by the local controller after landing to "turn left at taxiway bravo if able, cross [runway] one contact ground". ECJ81 exited the runway at taxiway B and contacted ground control for taxi to the Meridian FBO located on the north side of the airport. The developmental ground controller requested approval from the tower local controller to taxi ECJ81 across runway 1 at taxiway B. The local controller approved the request. About this time, N90AM called local control for takeoff and was directed to taxi into position and hold on the approach end of runway 1. The local controller, who was responsible for 2 aircraft and had 2 previous operational errors with some similarities, cleared N90AM for takeoff as ECJ81 was crossing the runway. The developmental ground controller reminded the local controller of the crossing and advised that it was not complete. The local controller, anticipating that appropriate separation would exist prior to N90AM beginning takeoff roll, instructed ground controller to expedite the crossing of ECJ81 and did not cancel the takeoff clearance. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the closest proximity was 4,000 feet. The incident occurred during day visual meteorological conditions.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The probable cause of this incident was the TEB tower local controller's failure to ensure that the runway was free of all known ground vehicles, equipment, and personnel before permitting a departing aircraft to start takeoff roll.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 12/27/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 802
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Teterboro
Event State NEW JERSEY
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
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 KTEB
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height 4300
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3400
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 3
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -1
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 20
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 23377
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
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 --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number -- --
NTSB Number OPS08IA004A OPS08IA004B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part -- --
Type of Flight Plan filed IFR IFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes Yes
Damage None None
Aircraft Fire -- --
Aircraft Explosion -- --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Gulfstream American Raytheon Corporate Jets
Aircraft Model G5 H25B
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number -- --
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
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 -- --
Number of Engines -- --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection -- --
Date of Last Inspection -- --
Airframe hours since last inspection -- --
Airframe Hours -- --
ELT Installed -- --
ELT Activated -- --
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? -- --
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? -- --
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? -- --
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- --
Operator State -- --
Operator Country -- --
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code -- ECJ
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
Indicates Domestic or International Flight -- Domestic
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail -- Passenger Only
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Unknown --
Second Pilot on Board -- --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes No
Departure Airport Code TEB ABE
Departure City Teterboro Allentown
Departure State NJ PA
Departure Country USA USA
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone EST --
Destination Same as Local Flt -- crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code PBI TEB
Destination City West Palm Beach Teterboro
Destination State FL NJ
Destination Country USA USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run Taxi - from landing
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 28 2008 9:16AM Jan 28 2008 9:16AM
User who most recently changed record ROWS ROWS
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location -- --
Runway Length -- --
Runway Width -- --
Sight Seeing flight No --
Air Medical Flight No --
Medical Flight -- --