STORM2K

This could have been bad.

Reported on ATWOnline:

A KLM 737-300 narrowly avoided a collision with an ATR turboprop Monday. The incident occurred shortly after the 737 landed at Munich. According to KLM, the 737 was still traveling at a speed of approximately 200 km/h when the ATR taxied onto the runway. The KLM pilot made a turn to the right and the two aircraft passed each other with just a few meters to spare. KLM said it reported the incident to air traffic control at Munich. The CVR was removed and sent to Amsterdam for further investigation. There were 127 passengers and five crew onboard the KLM jet.

That wouldn't have been pretty

with two Jumbo Jets in Tenerife in the Canary Islands in the 1970's Hundreds were killed.

Steve

Aslkahuna wrote:with two Jumbo Jets in Tenerife in the Canary Islands in the 1970's Hundreds were killed.

Steve

Correctamundo Steve. But that crash happed in thick fog, and one of the pilots had a real ego problem and it was determined that the co-pilot would have never been able to overrule his decision to take off when advised not to. His jet actually slid (as opposed to flew) over the top of the second jet, tearing each both apart and resulting in a fireball on the ground. It was not pretty. Many casualities.

Corona wrote:

Aslkahuna wrote:with two Jumbo Jets in Tenerife in the Canary Islands in the 1970's Hundreds were killed.

Steve

Correctamundo Steve. But that crash happed in thick fog, and one of the pilots had a real ego problem and it was determined that the co-pilot would have never been able to overrule his decision to take off when advised not to. His jet actually slid (as opposed to flew) over the top of the second jet, tearing each both apart and resulting in a fireball on the ground. It was not pretty. Many casualities.

Ego problem? Maybe, but the language barrier was probably the biggest contributor. The Dutch KLM crew misunderstood the controller's orders and took off anyways. They saw the Pan Am 747 and tried to rotate, but it was too late.

Anyways, it is a lot safer now and collisions in the air and on the ground are becoming increasingly rare.

Looks like I need to correct my previous statement. The KLM aircraft thought that it was cleared for takeoff, and proceeded down the runway. The tower told the KLM aircraft to hold, but a noise in the cockpit of the KLM aircraft prevented the crew from hearing the Pan American aircraft. CVR transcripts are below.

APP=controller
KLM-#= KLM crew members

1705:44.8 KLM Uh, the KLM ... four eight zero five is now ready for take-off ... uh and we're waiting for our ATC clearance.
1705:53.4 APP KLM eight seven * zero five uh you are cleared to the Papa Beacon climb to and maintain flight level nine zero right turn after take-off proceed with heading zero four zero until intercepting the three two five radial from Las Palmas VOR. (1706:08.2)
1706:09.6 KLM Ah roger, sir, we're cleared to the Papa Beacon flight level nine zero, right turn out zero four zero until intercepting the three two five and we're now (at take-off). (1706:17.9)
ca. 1706:13 KLM-1 We gaan. (We're going)
1706:18.19 APP OK.
1706:19.3 RDO No .. eh.
1706:20.08 APP Stand by for take-off, I will call you.
1706:20.3 RDO And we're still taxiing down the runway, the clipper one seven three six.
1706:19.39 - 1706:23.19 RDO and APP communications caused a shrill noise in KLM cockpit - messages not heard by KLM crew.
1706:25.6 APP
APP Thank you
1706:32.43 KLM-3 Is hij er niet af dan? {Is he not clear then?}
1706:34.1 KLM-1 Wat zeg je? {What do you say?}
1706:34.15 KLM-? Yup.
1706:34.7 KLM-3 Is hij er niet af, die Pan American? {Is he not clear that Pan American?}
1706:35.7 KLM-1 Jawel. {Oh yes. - emphatic}
1706:40 PanAm captain sees landinglights of KLM Boeing at approx. 700m
1706:44 PH-BUF started rotation
1706:47.44 KLM-1 [Scream]
1706:50 collision

nystate wrote:Looks like I need to correct my previous statement. The KLM aircraft thought that it was cleared for takeoff, and proceeded down the runway. The tower told the KLM aircraft to hold, but a noise in the cockpit of the KLM aircraft prevented the crew from hearing the Pan American aircraft. CVR transcripts are below......

That's exactly right NYSTATE. There was a language barrier and big big misundertanding. Not too cool when there are almost 600 people in those jets. During the investigations, the FAA and other groups were looking into the KLM pilot's bravado and the reluctance of his co-pilot to continue to challenge his decision. The facts you stated are correct. Some additional findings - albeit cleaned up and sanitized for the final report:

In its official conclusion as to the contributing factors in this accident, the Secretary of Civil Aviation, Spain reports:

"The fundamental cause of this accident was the fact that the KLM captain: 1. Took off without clearance.

2. Did not obey the "stand by for take-off" from the tower.

3. Did not interrupt take-off when Pan Am reported that they were still on the runway.

4. In reply to the flight engineer's query as to whether the Pan Am airplane had already left the runway, replied emphatically in the affirmative."

And it goes on. Here was an example of several key communication requirements gone wrong all simultaneously, when in fact, these comm requirements all needed to dovetail together in order to proceed with a safe takeoff.

So to cut to the chase, it is better to challenge authority than to slink like a down doggie with its tail between its legs into the corner and shut up. It was not only evident in this case, but also in the case of 9/11.