Embraer EMB 145XR N11176 and Boeing 737 824 N77520 incident near Newark, New Jersey

Probable cause

The local controller’s failure to comply with Federal Aviation Administration separation requirements for aircraft operating on intersecting runways.

NTSB analysis

A near midair collision occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), Newark, New Jersey, when an Embraer ERJ145 departing from runway 4R passed in close proximity to a Boeing 737-800 arriving to land on runway 29. Both aircraft were on regularly scheduled Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 passenger flights and under control of the EWR airport traffic control tower (ATCT) at the time of the incident. Neither aircraft sustained damage, and no passengers or crewmembers sustained injuries.

The Boeing 737 pilot contacted the ATCT while on the visual approach to runway 29. The local controller instructed the pilot to follow a Boeing 717 ahead and then cleared the pilot to land on runway 29. When the Boeing 717 was on short final, the local controller instructed the Embraer pilot to line up and wait on runway 4R. After the Boeing 717 crossed runway 4R, the local controller cleared the Embraer for takeoff. At that time, the Boeing 737 was about 3 miles from the runway 29 threshold; however, the Embraer did not actually begin its takeoff roll until the Boeing 737 was about 1 mile from the runway 29 threshold at 200 ft. The local controller recognized that the spacing between the Boeing 737 and the Embraer was insufficient and instructed the Boeing 737 pilot to go around. The Embraer continued its takeoff. The controller then provided traffic advisories to both the Boeing 737 and Embraer pilots and instructed the Embraer pilot to maintain visual separation from the Boeing 737. The Boeing 737 subsequently overflew the Embraer at the intersection of runways 29 and 4R. According to recorded Federal Aviation Administration radar data, the closest lateral and vertical proximity between the airplanes was about 0.03 mile and 400 ft, respectively, which is less than the minimum separation requirements for aircraft operating on intersecting runways.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for OPS14IA005 for the full record.