NTSB -- NTSB INVESTIGATING NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION OVER MINNEAPOLIS INVOLVING COMMERCIAL JETLINER AND SMALL CARGO AIRCRAFT

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NTSB ADVISORY

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National Transportation Safety Board

Washington, DC 20594

September 23, 2010

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NTSB INVESTIGATING NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION OVER MINNEAPOLIS

INVOLVING COMMERCIAL JETLINER AND SMALL CARGO AIRCRAFT

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The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a

near midair collision between a commercial jetliner and a

small cargo aircraft that came within an estimated 50 to 100

feet of colliding near the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport

(MSP).

On September 16, 2010, about 6:49 a.m. CDT, US Airways

flight 1848 (AWE 1848), an Airbus 320, was cleared for

takeoff on runway 30R en route to Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, carrying five crewmembers and 90 passengers.

At the same time, Bemidji Aviation Services flight 46

(BMJ46), a Beech 99 cargo flight with only the pilot aboard,

was cleared for takeoff on runway 30L en route to La Crosse,

Wisconsin. Weather conditions at the time were reported as a

900-foot ceiling and 10 miles visibility below the clouds.

Immediately after departure, the tower instructed the US

Airways crew to turn left and head west, causing the flight

to cross paths with the cargo aircraft approximately one-

half mile past the end of runway 30L. Neither pilot saw the

other aircraft because they were in the clouds, although the

captain of the US Airways flight reported hearing the Beech

99 pass nearby. Estimates based on recorded radar data

indicate that the two aircraft had 50 to 100 feet of

vertical separation as they passed each other approximately

1500 feet above the ground.

The US Airways aircraft was equipped with a Traffic Alert

and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) that issued climb

instructions to the crew to avert collision. The Beech 99

was not equipped with TCAS and the pilot was unaware of the

proximity of the Airbus. There were no reports of damage or

injuries as a result of the incident.

NTSB and FAA investigators conducted a preliminary

investigation at the Minneapolis airport traffic control

tower on September 18th and 19th and are continuing to review

the circumstances of this incident.

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Media contact:

Bridget Ann Serchak

202.314.6100

bridget.serchak@xxxxxxxx

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