Event Details


Title:Near Midair Collision, Hughes Airwest, Douglas DC-9, N9333, and Northwest Airlines, Inc., Douglas DC-10, N148US, Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington, April 1, 1976
Micro summary:Following a missed approach, there was insufficient separation between a DC-9 and DC-10 taking off from the same runway.
Event Time:1976-04-01 at 0738 PST
File Name:1976-04-01-US.pdf
Publishing Agency:National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
Publishing Country:USA
Report number:NTSB-AAR-76-18
Pages:25
Site of event:Missed Approach/Takeoff; Spokane RWY 21; 3250' MSL
First AirplaneSecond Airplane
Departure:Calgary International Airport, Calgary, Alberta, CanadaSpokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington
Destination:Spokane International Airport, Spokane, WashingtonSeattle-Tacoma International Airport, Seattle, Washington, USA
Airplane Type(s):Douglas DC-9Douglas DC-10
Flight Phase:Missed ApproachTakeoff
Registration(s):N9333N148US
Operator(s):Hughes Air WestNorthwest Airlines
Type of flight:RevenueRevenue
Occupants:54123
Fatalities:00
Serious Injuries:00
Minor/Non-Injured:54123
Other Injuries:00
Executive Summary:On April 1, 1976, Hughes Airwest Flight 5 and Northwest Airlines Flight 603 almost collided in instrument meteorological conditions over the Spokane International Airport, Spokane, Washington. Airwest 5 executed a missed approach from the ILS approach to runway 21 at Spokane Airport as Northwest 603 departed runway 21 and began its climb. Both aircraft continued in a south-southwesterly direction until the flightcrew of Airwest 5 saw Northwest 603 and took evasive action. Airwest 5 encountered the wake turbulence from Northwest 603 which rolled Airwest 5 into a 60' to 70° angle of bank. Its captain returned the aircraft to level flight and landed at Spokane Airport without further difficulty. Northwest 603 continued to its destination. None of the 176 persons aboard the two aircraft were injured, and the aircraft were not damaged.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this incident was the inadequacy of the local air traffic control procedures to insure positive and adequate separation between arriving and departing aircraft. Contributing to the incident was the failure of the local controller to recognize and resolve the impending conflict in accordance with the basic mandate to insure positive separation between aircraft. Also contributing to the incident was the failure of the crew of Airwest 5 to follow company ILS approach procedures and the recommended FAA position reporting procedures.
Learning Keywords:Operations - Airspace - Air Proximity
Operations - Airspace - Air Traffic Control
Operations - Upset - Wake vortex/jet blast

 




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