The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a runway incursion that caused a near-collision several days ago at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), North Carolina. A PSA Airlines regional jet and a general aviation turboprop aircraft were involved in the incident, which occurred at about 10:17 AM on May 29, 2009. No one was injured.At the time of the incident, a PSA Airlines CRJ-200 regional jet, operating as US Airways Express Flight 2390, was preparing to depart CLT for a scheduled passenger flight to Craven County Regional Airport, New Bern, NC (EWN). According to information released today by the NTSB, the jet was cleared for takeoff on runway 18L.
As the CRJ began its takeoff roll, a privately operated Pilatus PC-12 single engine turboprop aircraft was cleared to taxi into position and hold farther down the same runway in preparation for a departure roll that was to begin at the taxiway A intersection.
After the ground-based collision warning system (ASDE-X) alerted controllers to the runway incursion, the takeoff clearance for the regional jet was canceled. The jet rejected takeoff.
The pilot of the turboprop, seeing the regional jet coming down the runway on a collision course, taxied the PC-12 to the side of the runway. The FAA reported from the scene that the regional jet stopped approximately 10 feet from the PC-12.
On board the CRJ were three crew members and 42 passengers. The number on board the PC-12 was not mentioned, but the NTSB notes that there were no injuries reported among those on board either aircraft.
According to the NTSB, visual meteorological conditions prevailed with 9 miles visibility.
