B737 / B763, Austin USA, 2023

B737 / B763, Austin USA, 2023

Summary

On 4 February 2023, a Boeing 767-300 which had initiated a night go-around in freezing fog passed within 115 feet of a Boeing 737-700 taking off from the same runway. The aircraft had been respectively cleared to land and takeoff by the same controller but on sighting the 737 on the runway ahead, the 767 crew deemed a go around was necessary to avoid a ground collision. The experienced controller’s error was attributed to a combination of expectation bias, lack of awareness of a predictable delay to the 737’s departure, and lack of training in low-visibility operations.

Description

On 4 February 2023, a Boeing 767-300 (N297FE) operated by Federal Express on a scheduled domestic cargo flight from Memphis to Austin as FXE 1432 self-initiated a very low go-around at night in freezing fog. This took place after the crew made a late sighting of a Boeing 737-700 (N7827A) operated by Southwest Airlines on a scheduled international passenger flight from Austin to Cancun as SWA 708 on the same runway. The 767 subsequently passed 150 to 170 feet above the 737 as the 737 continued to accelerate through 100 knots for takeoff. As it passed over the upwind end of the runway, the 767 turned left to begin repositioning for another approach, and this was completed without further event as the 737 continued to its intended destination. The controller did not cancel the 737s takeoff clearance or instruct the 767 to go around.

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