Bombardier Inc CL-600-2C1 N506MJ and Cessna R172K N736GV incident near Allentown, Pennsylvania

Probable cause

The failure of both tower controllers to maintain awareness of the position of N736GV and ensure that the aircraft was clear of the runway before issuing a takeoff clearance to ASH7138.

NTSB analysis

On September 19, 2008, at 1938 eastern daylight time, an operational error occurred that resulted in a near-collision on runway 6 at the Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE), Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mesa Air Shuttle flight 7138, a Canadair CRJ-700 carrying 56 passengers and four crew from ABE to Chicago as a scheduled 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 121 flight, aborted takeoff because N736GV, a Cessna 172 carrying a pilot and two passengers under 14 CFR part 91, had just landed and was still taxiing on the runway near the intersection with taxiway B. The crew of ASH7138 estimated the distance between the two aircraft as 10 feet when they passed. There was no damage to either aircraft and no reported injuries. Following the incident, both aircraft taxied to parking. The crew of ASH7138 elected to cancel the flight and have the aircraft inspected. N736GV taxied to general aviation parking and concluded the flight.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for OPS08IA015 for the full record.