American B738 and Canada A321 at Sarasota on Feb 16th 2023, loss of separation on runway
Last Update: February 26, 2025 / 19:37:22 GMT/Zulu time
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 16, 2023
Classification
Incident
Airline
American Airlines
Flight number
AA-2172
Departure
Charlotte, United States
Destination
Sarasota, United States
Aircraft Registration
N976NN
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800
ICAO Type Designator
B738
Airport ICAO Code
KSRQ
About 3 minutes later an Air Canada Airbus A321-200, registration C-FJQH performing flight AC-1633 from Sarasota,FL (USA) to Toronto,ON (Canada) with 188 passengers and 6 crew, reported ready for the departure and was cleared for takeoff, however, it appears that transmission of the takeoff clearance was stepped on by another aircraft. The crew queried tower about 30 seconds later whether they had understood correctly they were cleared for takeoff, tower affirmed, the crew thus proceeded for takeoff.
The crew of the American B738 advised about another minute later they were going around initiating a go around from very low height (about 150 feet AGL) about 0.3nm before the (displaced) runway threshold and began to turn right onto downwind. The aircraft climbed to 3000 feet, positioned for another approach and landed safely on runway 14 about 8 minutes later.
The Air Canada Airbus continued takeoff, climbed out and continued to Toronto for a safe landing without further incident.
On Mar 7th 2023 the NTSB reported they are investigating the occurrence stating: "NTSB investigating the Feb. 16 incident at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport that occured when an Air Canada Rouge A-321 was cleared for takeoff on Runway 14 as an American Airlines B-737 was cleared to land on the same runway. The American Airlines crew self-initiated a go-around. No injuries or damage reported. A preliminary report expected in 2-3 weeks. The flights involved were Air Canada Rouge flight 1633 to Toronto and America 2172 from Charlotte."
On Mar 16th 2023 the NTSB released their preliminary report stating the minimum separation between the aircraft reduced to 0 feet vertical and 0.6nm horizontal and summarizing the sequence of events:
NTSB examination of SRQ radar data revealed that AAL2172 was about ten miles north of SRQ on a visual approach for runway 14 when communications were established with the FAA local controller (LC). The LC then cleared AAL2172 to land on Runway 14. When AAL2172 was on a 3.12-mile final, the LC asked ROU1633 if they were ready for departure, and ROU1633 responded affirmatively.
The LC then cleared ROU1633 for takeoff on Runway 14, with instructions to fly the runway heading, and issued ROU1633 a traffic advisory informing them that AAL2172 was on a 3-mile final. About 13 seconds later, when AAL2172 was on 2.56-mile final, the LC issued AAL2172 a traffic advisory informing AAL2172 that ROU1633 was departing runway 14. When AAL2172 was on a 1.53-mile final, ROU1633 asked the LC to confirm the departing heading, to which the LC affirmed that ROU1633 was to fly the runway heading. About 53 seconds later, AAL2172 informed the controller they were executing a pilot-initiated go-around.
AAL2172 was then given instructions to turn right to a heading of 270 degrees and to contact the Tampa Departure Control for re-sequencing. The estimated closest proximity between ROU1633 and AAL2172 was 0.6 miles horizontally and the same altitude; ROU1633 was departing runway 14 and climbing through 100 feet, and AAL2172 was about 100 feet, and crossing over the runway 14 numbers.
On Feb 26th 2025 the NTSB released their final report concluding the probable causes of the incident were:
The local controller’s failure to prioritize and properly monitor the runway and airport environment along with his erroneous assumption that ROU 1633 would depart from runway 14 before AAL2172 arrived to land on the same runway, which resulted in a loss of separation between both airplanes.
Metars:
KSRQ 170353Z 21005KT 10SM CLR 21/18 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP184 T02110183=
KSRQ 170253Z 21005KT 10SM CLR 22/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02170183 50010=
KSRQ 170153Z 23004KT 10SM CLR 22/18 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02220178=
KSRQ 170053Z 20005KT 10SM CLR 23/17 A3008 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02280172=
KSRQ 162353Z 19009KT 10SM CLR 23/17 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP178 T02330172 10278 20233 51005=
KSRQ 162253Z 19008KT 10SM CLR 25/17 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP177 T02500167=
Aircraft Registration Data
Incident Facts
Date of incident
Feb 16, 2023
Classification
Incident
Airline
American Airlines
Flight number
AA-2172
Departure
Charlotte, United States
Destination
Sarasota, United States
Aircraft Registration
N976NN
Aircraft Type
Boeing 737-800
ICAO Type Designator
B738
Airport ICAO Code
KSRQ
This article is published under license from Avherald.com. © of text by Avherald.com.
Article source
You can read 2 more free articles without a subscription.
Subscribe now and continue reading without any limits!
Read unlimited articles and receive our daily update briefing. Gain better insights into what is happening in commercial aviation safety.
Send tip
Support AeroInside by sending a small tip amount.
Related articles
Fleet type match
American B738 near Pittsburgh on Nov 17th 2021, odour in cockpit
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N976NN performing flight AA-2813 from New York JFK,NY to Austin,TX (USA), was enroute at FL340…
Fleet type match
American B738 at Denver on Sep 17th 2015, electrical and navigation outages
An American Airlines Boeing 737-800, registration N976NN performing flight AA-151 from Denver,CO to Chicago O'Hare,IL (USA) with 137 people on board,…
Fleet type match
American A319 near Miami on Mar 19th 2026, dropped engine cowling
An American Airlines Airbus A319-100, registration N725UW performing flight AA-1181 from Miami,FL (USA) to Fort-De-France (Martinique), was climbing…
Fleet type match
American A320 at San Antonio on Feb 27th 2026, police helicopter crosses final approach
An American Airlines Airbus A320-200, registration N669AW performing flight AA-1657 from Charlotte,NC to San Antonio,TX (USA), was on final approach…
Fleet type match
American A321 near Raleigh/Durham on Jun 22nd 2025, turbulence injures 8
An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N189UW performing flight AA-1286 from Miami,FL to Raleigh/Durham,NC (USA) with 181 passengers and…
Fleet type match
American A321 at Aruba on Mar 12th 2026, tail scrape on takeoff
An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N120EE performing flight AA-870 from Aruba (Aruba) to Philadelphia,PA (USA), was departing Aruba's…
Fleet type match
American A321 enroute on Mar 10th 2026, dropped parts of thrust reverser
An American Airlines Airbus A321-200, registration N108NN performing flight AA-373 from Boston,MA to Los Angeles,CA (USA), departed Boston's runway…
Newest articles
Batik Malaysia B738 at Kuala Lumpur on Apr 12th 2026, engine problems
A Batik Air Malaysia Boeing 737-800, registration 9M-LNP performing flight OD-293 from Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) to Male (Maldives), was climbing out…
Fleet type match
United B753 at Chicago on Apr 12th 2026, door problem
A United Boeing 757-300, registration N57857 performing flight UA-576 from Chicago O'Hare,IL to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was climbing out of Chicago…
Subscribe today
Are you researching aviation incidents? Get access to AeroInside Insights, unlimited read access and receive the daily newsletter.
Pick your plan and subscribePartner
ELITE Simulation Solutions is a leading global provider of Flight Simulation Training Devices, IFR training software as well as flight controls and related services. Find out more.
SafetyScan Pro provides streamlined access to thousands of aviation accident reports. Tailored for your safety management efforts. Book your demo today
AeroInside Blog
Popular aircraft
Airbus A320Boeing 737-800
Boeing 737-800 MAX
Popular airlines
American AirlinesUnited
Delta
Air Canada
Lufthansa
British Airways