PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - SFO near ground collision/runway incursion (re-titled from: YIKES)
Old 11th Jun 2007, 22:10
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4potflyer
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: SF,CA,USA
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I've only flown Cessna's but during any landing the crew are focused entirely on landing checklists, instruments, and control inputs to plonk the thing down on the centerline and at the start of the runway. Scanning for traffic at a controlled airfield probably introduces more risk than it helps by providing a distraction from the crucial job of flying the approach.
From the NTSB report there was also a slight crosswind, and the winds close to the ground here in SF bay area can be very gusty and change in direction and strength along the approach because of the topography of the mountains on the peninsula.
The best chance for catching the error was probably the departing plane's crew hearing the conflicting clearance. However,they may not have been on tower frequency when the landing clearance was given, and they will also have been very busy doing the pre departure checks.
All in all a very lucky escape. Thank goodness it was not a 757 or something and they managed to get airborne without stalling or hitting the sitting duck.
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