Endeavor CRJ9 at Detroit on Jan 27th 2016, rejected takeoff due to operational error

Last Update: April 15, 2020 / 23:17:19 GMT/Zulu time

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Photo of Endeavor Air N316PQ, Canadair CL-600 Regional Jet CRJ-705 — Endeavor Air N316PQ, Canadair CL-600 Regional Jet CRJ-705 (Photo credit: Anna Zvereva / Flickr / License: CC by-sa)

Incident Facts

Date of incident
Jan 27, 2016

Classification
Incident

Cause
Rejected takeoff

Airline
Endeavor Air

Flight number
DL-3860

Departure
Detroit, United States

Destination
Dallas Ft. Worth, United States

Aircraft Registration
N316PQ

Aircraft Type
Canadair CL-600 Regional Jet CRJ-705

ICAO Type Designator
CRJ9

An Endeavor Canadair CRJ-900 on behalf of Delta Airlines, registration N316PQ performing flight DL-3860 from Detroit,MI to Dallas Ft. Worth,TX (USA), was cleared for takeoff from Detroit's runway 22L and commenced takeoff. About 20 seconds later tower instructed DL-3860 to abort takeoff and instructed a vehicle on the runway to turn right off the runway. The CRJ slowed safely, the closest distance to the vehicle was 211 feet horizontally.

On Apr 14th 2020 the NTSB reported there had been two local controllers (LNE and LNW) in charge prior to the occurrence, LNW was controlling runways 22L and 22R. An operations vehicle reported on LNW for a runway inspection of runway 22R and was cleared for the inspection. After the vehicle had finished the inspection the driver advised he was clear of the runway and would now drive to the end of runway 22L for an inspection of runway 22L. LNW cleared the vehicle to hold short of runway 22L at taxiway R. LNW subsequently cleared the vehicle onto runway 22L, the driver drove onto the runway, turned southbound to drive to the very end of the runway, turned around and proceeded now northbound towards the threshold of the runway.

About 20 seconds after the vehicle had been cleared onto runway 22L the positions LNE and LNW were merged, LNE took over and received a handover briefing, in which LNW reported the vehicle was on runway 22L moving northbound. During the briefing DL-3860 reported on frequency being ready for departure from runway 22L. The LNE controller later stated in his testimony that he missed the part of the briefing indicating the vehicle on the runway because he focussed on the departure call by the CRJ. LNE issued takeoff clearance from runway 22L to DL-3860. About 20 seconds later ASDE-X alerted the runway was occupied by both DL-3860 and the operations vehicle. After instructing the CRJ to abort takeoff and the vehicle to drive off the runway to the right the LNE controller apologized "that was my fault".

The CRJ needed to return to the apron and was able to depart for the flight about 2:20 hours after the rejected takeoff.

On Apr 15th 2020 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable cause of the incident was: "The local controller's failure to visually scan and ensure that the runway surface was not occupied by a vehicle or other aircraft before issuing a takeoff clearance to the pilot. Contributing to this incident was the relieved controller's failure to monitor and review the position, after completing the relief briefing, to ensure that nothing had been overlooked."

Metar:
KDTW 271253Z 25009KT 10SM -SN SCT025 BKN040 OVC170 M02/M04 A3020
RMK AO2 SLP232 P0000 T10171044=