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NTSB INVESTIGATING NEAR MIDAIR COLLISION OF US AIRWAYS A319
AND CARGOLUX AIRLINES INTERNATIONAL 747 IN ALASKA
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The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an
investigation into the near midair collision of a passenger
jetliner and a cargo jumbo jet.
On May 21, 2010, at about 12:10 a.m. Alaska Daylight Savings
Time, an Airbus A319, operating as US Airways flight 140,
and a Boeing 747-400, operating as Cargolux Airlines
International flight 658, came within an estimated 100 feet
vertically and a .33 mile lateral separation as the B747 was
departing Anchorage International Airport (ANC) and the A319
was executing go-around procedures at ANC.
The A319, with 138 passengers and crew aboard, was inbound
from Phoenix (PHX) to runway 14 and the B747, with a crew of
2, was departing Anchorage en route to Chicago (ORD) on
runway 25R. The incident occurred in night visual
meteorological conditions with 10 miles of visibility.
According to the TCAS report from the A319 crew, that
aircraft was approaching ANC when, because of the effects of
tailwinds on the aircraft's approach path, the crew
initiated a missed approach and requested new instructions
from air traffic control. The tower controller instructed
the A319 to turn right heading 300 and report the departing
B747 in sight. After the A319 crew reported the B747 in
sight, the controller instructed the A319 to maintain visual
separation from the B747, climb to 3000 feet, and turn right
heading 320. The A319 crew refused the right turn because
the turn would have put their flight in direct conflict with
the B747. The A319 crew then received a resolution advisory
to "monitor vertical speed" and the crew complied with the
descent command. During the descent, the A319 crew lost
sight of the B747. At about 1700 feet above ground level,
the A319 crew received a "clear of conflict" aural command.
There were no reported injuries or damage to either
aircraft.
Could have been nasty. How is "monitor vertical speed" interpreted as "descend"? Is the NTSB confused on this one?
- GY