NTSB: Controller at Fault for Takeoff Near Collision

Isabel Goyer

Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 10:29 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A near miss occurred at Gulfport-Biloxi Airport between a Cessna 172 and an Embraer Regional Jet, caused by the air traffic controller clearing both for takeoff on intersecting runways.
The two airplanes missed each other at approximately 300 feet above ground level with "0" feet vertical offset, leading an ATC official to remark on the extreme luck that no one was killed.
Despite a "checkered work history," the responsible controller was removed from duty, decertified, retrained, re-certified, and subsequently returned to work at Gulfport-Biloxi.

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The near miss between the 172 and an Embraer Regional Jet at Gulfport-Biloxi (Mississippi) Airport last year was caused by the controller handling the flights, according to the NTSB.

The two airplanes were both cleared to take off, the 172 on Runway 18 and moments later the ERJ on intersecting Runway 14. The airplanes missed each other while at approximately 300 feet agl. Their vertical offset was “0″ feet, according to the report.