NTSB: Avanti, SR22 Cleared To Depart On Intersecting Runways

According to an NTSB Preliminary Report issued this week, two aircraft narrowly avoided a very close call at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport this weekend.

The report states the runway incursion occurred Sunday afternoon at 1320 EDT, after a Piaggio P-180 Avanti and Cirrus SR22 were each cleared for takeoff on intersecting runways.

The Piaggio was cleared to depart first, on runway 24; less than a minute later, the SR22 pilot advised the tower he was ready for an intersection departure on runway 19. The controller cleared the SR22 to take off, and climb to 1,000 feet on a northwesterly heading.

The NTSB states the Avanti pilot saw the SR22 rolling, and applied the brakes hard, blowing out each of the tires on the Piaggio's maingear. The Cirrus rolled in front of the Avanti less than 50 feet ahead, and proceeded to take off.

The Avanti came to a stop in the intersection. An ANN News-Spy who was planewatching at TEB at the time states the Avanti slid sideways during its stop, before turning "almost 120 degrees" to the right. The aircraft remained upright, and on the runway.

No injuries were reported onboard either aircraft.

According to the prelim, the tower controller who had cleared both flights for departure did not see the incursion, and did not cancel either takeoff clearance. VFR conditions prevailed at the time, with 10 miles visibility.

Two other controllers, in training, were working clearance delivery with their backs turned from the front of the tower cab. A fourth controller was on break.

FMI: www.teb.com, Read The Preliminary Report