Greater Peoria Regional Airpor Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Peoria, Illinois
Monday, September 22, 2008 17:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On Monday, September 22, 2008 at 1750 central daylight time, Skywest (SKW) flight 5961, a Canadair Regional Jet (CRJ-200), and American Eagle (EGF) flight 4075, an Embraer ERJ-145 (E145) were cleared to land simultaneously on intersecting runways at the Greater Peoria Regional Airport (PIA) in Peoria, Illinois. The air traffic control tower operator that cleared the two aircraft to land was a position certified developmental controller working local control (LC). EGF4075, number 1 in the landing sequence, on a visual approach to runway 22, rejected the landing clearance stating he was too high and requested a 360 degree turn on final. The LC disapproved the request due to aircraft that were following and directed EGF4075 to enter a right downwind for runway 13. At 1747:45, LC cleared SKW5961, on a visual approach, to land on runway 22 when the flight was four miles from the landing threshold. At 1748:09, LC cleared EGF4075 to land on runway 13 and advised that a regional jet was on a three mile final for runway 22. At 1749:45, SKW5961 was on landing rollout and LC asked if they could hold short of runway 13. The crew advised they could. The LC directed SKW5961 to hold short of runway 13 for landing traffic. SKW5961 did not acknowledge the hold short instructions. Five seconds later SKW5961 transmitted "Well almost, uh, but uh, we're here what do you want us to do". The LC directed SKW5961 to hold short of runway 13, because of landing traffic. SKW 5961 responded; "We're kind of technically on the runway [runway 22] but there's plenty of room for a small plane". SKW5961 had stopped short of runway 22 on runway 13 just past old land and hold short (LAHSO) markings on runway 13. The pilot of SKW5961 assumed the LASHO markings on runway 13 was the hold short point for the intersection of runways 13 and 22. LAHSO is an acronym for "Land and Hold Short Operation." These operations include landing and holding short of an intersecting runway, a taxiway, a predetermined point, or an approach/departure flightpath. A LAHSO hold short point is a point on the runway beyond which a landing aircraft with a LAHSO clearance is not authorized to proceed. This point may be located prior to an intersecting runway, taxiway, predetermined point, or approach/departure flight path. The LAHSO markings on runway 13 are 235 feet from the edge of runway 22. PIA is not a LASHO airport even though LASHO markings are maintained by the airport authority. The PIA air traffic manager, at PIA for approximately one year, was not ware of when PIA ceased LAHSO operations. According to the PIA ATCT Order 7110.1B, Peoria Air Traffic Control (ATC) Facility Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), reference to LAHSO were removed in November 2001. After SKW5961 reported they were technically on runway 22, the LC directed the pilot to hold his position. At 1750:42 LC instructed EGF4075 to exit runway 13 at taxiway M, 1900 feet from the intersection of runway 13 and runway 22, followed shortly thereafter with instructions to SKW5961 to turn right onto runway 31 and turn right onto taxiway M. The LC, stated that he believed that SKW5961 would exit runway 22 at taxiway E and that EGF4075 would fly a longer downwind leg of the traffic pattern. This belief resulted in the LC clearing EGF4075 to land on runway 13 prior to having assured separation between aircraft landing on intersecting runways. When the LC realized that separation would be close, he observed SKW5961 stopped on runway 22 short of runway 13 and believed separation was assured. When SKW5961 advised they were technically on runway 13, the LC considered it safer to allow EGF4075 to land rather direct a go around considering the critical phase of flight EGF4075 was in at the time. The controller-in-charge (CIC) was working combined positions that included ground control, flight data, and clearance delivery and stated that he did not perceive a situation developing that would have resulted in a loss of separation. Per FAA Order 7110.65, Air Traffic Control, Paragraph 3-10-4, Intersecting Runway Separation: "Issue traffic information to each aircraft operating on intersecting runways. a. Separate an arriving aircraft using one runway from another aircraft using an intersecting runway or a nonintersecting runway when the flight paths intersect by ensuring that the arriving aircraft does not cross the landing threshold or flight path of the other aircraft until one of the following conditions exists: 1. The preceding aircraft has departed and passed the intersection/flight path or is airborne and turning to avert any conflict. 2. A preceding arriving aircraft is clear of the landing runway, completed landing roll and will hold short of the intersection/flight path, or has passed the intersection/flight path." Tower staffing included four controllers: LC, and another controller working ground control, flight data, clearance delivery, and controller-in-charge (CIC) positions combined. Two controllers were on break. The weather at PIA at 1754 was wind 130 at 04 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 6500 feet, broken clouds at 10,000 feet, temperature 27 degrees Celsius, dew point 16 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.26 inches of mercury. Sunset occurred at 1807. The runways were dry.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The tower local controller's failure to provide adequate separation between EGF4075 and SKW5961 that landed on intersecting runways.

Event Information

Type of Event Incident
Event Date 9/22/2008
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1750
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Peoria
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site --
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport Greater Peoria Regional Airpor
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PIA
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 660
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 1754 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KPIA
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions --
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6500
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 130
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.26
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury --
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24613
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2008 1:40PM
User who most recently changed record rows
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft #2

Aircraft Registration Number -- --
NTSB Number OPS09IA001A OPS09IA001B
Missing Aircraft Indicator -- --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part -- --
Type of Flight Plan filed -- --
Flight plan Was Activated? -- --
Damage None None
Aircraft Fire None None
Aircraft Explosion None None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name -- --
Aircraft Model -- --
Aircraft Series Identifier -- --
Aircraft Serial Number -- --
Certified Max Gross Weight -- --
Aircraft Category -- --
Aircraft Registration Class -- --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? -- --
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 Unknown --
ELT Activated Unknown --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown --
ELT Type -- --
Aircraft Owner Name -- --
Aircraft Owner Street Address -- --
Aircraft Owner City Ft Worth St George
Aircraft Owner State TX UT
Aircraft Owner Country USA USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode -- --
Operator is an individual? No No
Operator Name -- --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes No
Operator Is Doing Business As -- --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No Yes
Operator Street Address -- --
Operator City -- St George
Operator State -- UT
Operator Country USA USA
Operator Zip code -- --
Operator Code EGF SKW
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No No
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 Domestic 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 -- --
Departure Airport Code -- --
Departure City -- --
Departure State -- --
Departure Country -- --
Departure Time -- --
Departure Time Zone -- --
Destination Same as Local Flt -- --
Destination Airport Code -- --
Destination City -- --
Destination State -- --
Destination Country -- --
Specific Phase of Flight -- --
Report sent to ICAO? -- --
Evacuation occurred -- --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2008 1:19PM Nov 17 2008 1:20PM
User who most recently changed record bard bard
Since inspection or accident -- --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 13 22
Runway Length 10104 8003
Runway Width 150 150
Sight Seeing flight No No
Air Medical Flight No No
Medical Flight -- --